FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 13th September 2008, 3.00pm
Rovers Taught A Lesson By The Scholars
After making a great start to the match everything unravelled after 35 minutes as Rovers made their FA Cup exit.
Rovers could have been two up after just 11 minutes. Jamie Barrett rattled the crossbar with a cracking shot from 25 yards on 9 minutes and a hand ball from Ross Miller in the area gave David Blenkinsopp the chance to put his side in front from the spot two minutes later.
The home side could have put themselves further in front on 17 minutes when Chasetown keeper Ryan Price flapped at Sam Wilson's cross from the left and luckily for Pryce the ball hit the corner of bar and post and went out.
Some poor challenges from the visitors were going unpunished leading to Rovers getting more and more frustrated. A particular reckless lunging two-footed tackle by Miller on Mickey Lyons amazingly went unnoticed or ignored by referee Mr Lovegrove.
Chasetown's first attempt of any not came on 23 minutes with David Smith hitting a shot high and wide and then a shot from Gary Birch was well blocked by keeper Nicky Scaife at his near post.
The resulting corner saw Rovers make a swift break and Blenkinsopp was again unlucky to see his effort go just wide of the far post with Price beaten.
Chasetown levelled on 29 minutes when Miles Chamberlain was adjudged to have brought down Dean Perrow although the striker did use all of his guile to get it noticed. Perrow fired the ball straight down the middle from the spot.
On 32 minutes later another example of poor officiating saw Miller once more get away with a dreadful lunge on Carl Slater that incensed the midfielder who took his frustration out on Mark Branch receiving a yellow card.
With things starting to boil over a two footed tackle by Jamie Hood, making his first start after missing the last four matches due to holidays, was deemed bad enough for a straight red card although again Perrow made much of it although not being touched by the Rovers defender.
The free kick almost led to another goal for the visitors as Harry Harris hit a shot that was blocked by Scaife and the rebound hit the post.
Minutes later Perrow who had limped off the field made a miraculous recovery to collect a short corner and hit a low shot that was deflected in at the near post.
Although down to ten men Rovers came out after the break pushing their visitors back and their pressure soon told as Scaife launched a huge kick down field which was superbly controlled by Blenkinsopp before drilling it past Price.
The home side were not content to sit back and play out for a draw, they pushed forward and unfortunately left themselves exposed at the back.
A long kick by Scaife was headed back by John Branch into the path of Perrow who made no mistake slotting the ball past the Rovers keeper and into the net.
Rovers were the authors of their own downfall eight minutes later when Scaife's failure to collect a cross from Danny Smith allowed Perrow the simplest of chances nodding the ball home at the far post.
With the home side visibly tiring Chasetown could have added to their tally with Harris hitting the bar with a shot on the turn, Perrow almost poking home his fifth and Birch firing straight at Scaife.
Rovers did have one last go with Blenkinsopp hitting a shot across the face of the Chasetown goal.
At the end of the day Chasetown go through to the next round but if Rovers had managed to have finished the game with eleven men and the referee a bit more even in his decisions then the outcome could have a lot different.
Manager's View
Tony Hemmings:
"The sending off was definitely the key it caused a few problems but as you could see with ten players on the pitch we still looked a good side, we looked a very good side. We were better than them in every department.
"I felt sorry for Miles (Chamberlain) and Nathan (Morris) who had a fantastic game along with Dan Douglas.
"The referee didn't give us anything today that isn't sour grapes because I felt with eleven players on the pitch we'd have been okay.
"It's the first time in a long time that we've looked organised and a few individuals making mistakes has cost us. It cost us the other night and it's cost us again today.
"You can see we've got a reasonably good side here and I just want the supporters to be patient with us and the gaffer (Gary Norton).
"The reason I'm doing this interview tonight is because the gaffer is so upset. He's Gresley through and through and it really, really hurts.
"I'm not going to single anyone out because we win as a team and lose as a team. I'm just disappointed to be honest but I'm going to stick to my philosophy and as a team we didn't do it today.
It caused our own downfall. We gave them everything, they weren't the best team today but the score suggests that they were and that's the disappointing thing that the score will suggest that they are better than us.
"I've got faith in our team. Mickey Lyons is playing well, Blenko (David Blenkinsopp) is scoring goals, Carl Slater and Jamie Barrett has a good understanding in midfield. Olly Hancock is on a different planet to some of these players. Jordi Gough when he gets on he's a young prospect coming through and we've just put Matt Weightman (Youth Team) on a contract and he's looking good.
"You've got Nathan (Morris) who's been a rock at the back. We've got Miles (Chamberlain) and Dan Douglas who can play in any position on the park. We have got a very good side here and it's down to the gaffer, myself and Dave Fleary the coach to get the best out of them and that's what we'll be working at because we feel we can make an impression this year, I really do.
"It's nice when you go in the changing room and whether you've won or not the lads are disappointed in their performances and that's what we've had since I've been assistant manager.
"It's a lot better changing room here, good camaraderie, good team spirit and it's just a shame that everyone's preparation weren't right.
"Brian Woodall has tweaked his ankle again and I'm not too sure how long he's going to be out, it could be two to three weeks.
"I'm just praying that Olly Hancock is fit for Wednesday night. In the system we play he's lively, energetic and he gets up and down the pitch and he asks questions all the time.
"I'm pleased we've got a midweek game as you need to bounce back quick. It's going to be a difficult game for us away at Kidsgrove but hopefully if we go there with the right attitude, the right preparation, desire to put a performance in and an attitude to make the system work we'll be okay."
