Pre-Season Friendly
The Fieldings, Sutton in Ashfield
Tuesday, 14th July 2009, 7.30pm
Rovers Undone at Sutton
Gresley played their second pre-season game at the Fieldings, home of Sutton Town AFC with eight players absent from the starting line-up at their previous game at Meir.
Tom & Adam Betteridge were scheduled to appear for another club who are chasing the pair whilst another trialist, central defender Mark Stryzewski who impressed in Saturday's win was out of the country on holiday.
Mickey Lyons, Stef Marshall and Simon Baldwin all had work commitments, Matt Hill is on holiday and Andy Elliott was ruled out with a thigh strain.
Young defender Nathan Rolph went down with flu during the afternoon giving manager Gary Norton the opportunity to give several triallists a decent run out in his side.
Sutton, who are hoping to be challenging for honours next season in the Central Midlands League, made all the early running putting Gresley's backline under pressure.
On 19 minutes The Snipes' Peter Stubley had the ball in the net only for the assistant referee's flag rule his effort out.
However, the home side didn't have long to wait as three minutes later a superb through ball caught Gresley's defence flat footed and Richard Groves raced on to slot the ball past keeper Stewart Haywood.
Sutton should have added two more soon after when Ben Greenhalgh and Stubley flashed shots just wide of the post.
The first attempt by Gresley came on 37 minutes but Leon Marshall could only blaze his shot well over the bar.
The home hit back swiftly with skipper Kyle Ludlow cracking a shot across the goal and wide of the far post.
Sutton doubled their lead on 41 minutes when the unfortunate James Davies was harshly adjudged to have handled the ball in the area. Danny O'Donnell took the spot kick sending Haywood the wrong way.
Gresley almost reduced the arrears on the stroke of half time. Awarded a free kick just outside the area James Davies' curling shot went inches the wrong side of the far upright.
Sutton made it three, straight from the kick off for the second half. A ball put down the slope caught Gresley napping and Richard Groves scored with barely 30 seconds on the clock.
On 63 minutes Haywood did well to touch an effort wide as the home side threatened to add to Gresley's misery.
Indeed perhaps the easiest chance of the night was squandered by Sutton. On 81 minutes a mistake by Davies allowed O'Donnell the opportunity to race unchallenged towards goal but, instead of finishing off the chance himself he chose to slip the ball square to team mate James Senior. Unfortunately the pass was over hit and the ball raced to the by line before Senior could get to it and the chance was gone.
One more chance for Sutton came on 84 minutes when O'Donnell crossed for Greenhalgh to power a header on target that Haywood did well to tip over the bar.
Manager's View
"Tonight was a total reverse of Saturday and I'll say tonight as I said then after a decent three nil win. There was some cracking football with lots of positives. On the flip side of it tonight we've been beaten comfortably, we've not got going at all.
"But, let's look at things in context. We've had eight of the starting line-up from Saturday not involved at all and Nathan Rolph has gone down with the flu this afternoon.
"Tonight served a purpose. As usual in pre-season we have a large squad and it gave me the opportunity to give triallists a chance of some fair pitch time. Nobody can say that they haven't had that pitch time tonight and some of the triallists on Saturday.
"As disappointing as it was it's answered some questions for me. There were eight or nine people on trial and I've got answers about the majority of them and I won't be furthering my interest in the majority of them.
"The spine of the side was some strong, established recognised players and there were two or three of those guys who just didn't get to the standard that they need to and they've just been told that in the dressing room.
"But, it is pre-season and I'm not going to get carried away and I've just said to the lads that we move on from this now, we train on Thursday and we train on Saturday. The established lads that were out there tonight and have signed although their performances were disappointing have got a big chunk of match fitness under their belts and that's important.
"I feel frustrated and disappointed tonight but I don't feel there is a problem. We've had twelve established players who we are trying to sign or have signed not here tonight. Tonight was about having a look at people, giving people opportunities and that's what we've done.
"Fair play to Sutton they've played well, they've been physical and they played some good stuff and we've been well beaten.
"I'll be making a few phone calls tomorrow as I don't like to do things so soon after the event because I'm still a little bit aggrieved. I was ready to be going home at a quarter past eight! I'm travelling back with a couple of guys and I'll have a chat with them and tell them where I think they need to go and work on things.
"Perhaps they may stay and have a look in our reserve team and work on one or two things. In training one or two of the lads that we have had with us have looked sharp but there is no substitute for a game situation. One or two of them I will pursue a further interest in but I always say you need to look at people in a game situation.
"We've done that and some of the guys have had some good pitch time and we've been able to form a fairly good opinion and I'm keen from the Stapenhill game onwards we now are starting to form a side. Moving the triallists aside it's good that I've been able to do that because in some pre-seasons we've had a lot of triallists around for a good chunk of it.
"I'll be looking to sign one or two of the guys we've got around. Three that played on Saturday I'm desperate to sign and they know that. We are talking to one or two other players as well who we are trying to get to the club who are established and we'll be in fairly good shape come August the eleventh.
"Jamie Barrett and I were in touch last night and it's the fifth day of his isolation period today and we felt to be on the safe side rather than bring him out here tonight that we'd give him an hour in the reserves game on Thursday.
"Jamie is an established player and we have no concerns about him at all. It's sensible to give him those two extra days off.
"Callum Keenan should resume training later this week and I spoke to Jordi Gough this afternoon and he's really struggling with a back injury that needs a scan so that's three players that would walk into your side if they were fit.
"I've just spoke to some of our supporters and told them 'don't be worried lads, we'll be fine' and I have no qualms about that."
