East Midlands Counties League
Terrace Road, Ellistown
Monday, 31st August 2009, 3.00pm
Gresley Win At A Canter
Gresley could quite easily have doubled their score as they totally dominated this East Midlands Counties League game despite playing into a stiff breeze during the first half and with the grass on the longish side.
Ellistown were on the back foot from the start as Gresley pressed forward and were one down after just 5 minutes.
Carl Slater sent Tom Betteridge racing down the left and the cross was perfect for Brian Woodall who slotted the ball home.
Gresley went close again ten minutes later but Rob Spencer's shot was well blocked by Ellistown keeper Ben Muskin but Matt Hill fired the rebound over the bar.
A free kick from James Davies caused the home defenders problems in the box but somehow the referee Mr Garner missed a clear handball from one of them.
However, Gresley had yet another chance on 23 minutes when Spencer was upended in the box by Muskin. Slater chose to take the spot kick but the shot was a poor one and the keeper saved easily.
In a previous game Gresley were made to pay for a penalty miss but today it didn't seem to matter too much as they continued to dominate the game with Mickey Lyons firing inches wide on the half hour.
One of Ellistown's very rare attempts on goal came on 57 minutes when Adam Smith fired over the bar.
Lyons had a decent chance two minutes later but fired his shot straight at Muskin but Gresley did extend their lead seconds later. Woodall received the ball down the right and his whipped cross was superbly headed home by Spencer who'd got in front of his marker.
On 70 minutes Spencer had a moment that will surely haunt him for a while. Tom Betteridge made a fine run down the left and threaded the ball through for Spencer who inexplicably fired wide of a gaping open goal.
Ellistown did have the ball in the net but all their celebrations were in vain as the assistant referee had had his flag in the air for quite a while for an offside.
Gresley rubbed salt in their hosts wounds as three minutes later they'd added a third goal. Some good inter passing between brothers Andy and Tom Betteridge down the left ended with another perfect pass into the box for Woodall to smash home.
Another clear hand ball was missed by the referee when Tom Betteridge's cross meant for Slater waiting in the area was handled by a defender.
The closest Ellistown came to getting a goal back came with just five minutes remaining when former Moatman Carl Timms headed wide form a good position.
Yet again the home side where made to pay because Gresley added their fourth on 89 minutes when substitute Oliver Hancock who had been holding the ball up while he got some support, decided to try his hand and smashed a terrific low shot to leave Muskin a mere spectator as the ball flew into the far corner of the net.
Manager's View
"What pleased me most about today's performance was the three points. After the struggle of the last couple of games if you'd have offered me three points this morning no matter how we got them, scrappily I'd have snapped your arm off but to get it and to play some decent stuff today is pleasing.
"It was more like we were expecting. I think the fourth goal was a little lucky at the end because I don't quite think the ball went out so there's a bit of controversy there but by then the game was won.
"I thought we controlled it for the most part and had the luxury of being able to miss a penalty which is concerning me because it was the second penalty on the trot.
"We've still got to learn to be a bit more clinical because that's what's cost us in a couple of recent games not finishing sides off or not scoring when we've had good opportunities.
"Rob Spencer's performance pleased me. If I'm honest I thought the system we'd set up today could Isolate Rob up there. They've got a big back four but I thought he was superb from start to the moment he came off. He led the line really well and he's worked his socks off and he's won some decent stuff in the air and for a small player against a big back four - he could have had a couple of goals.
"Jack Coulson has come in and done a cracking job for us today as cover because Gareth Langford was named on the bench but we wouldn't have realistically used him. So, Jack and Spence stand out and they were closely followed by a few more. Mickey Lyons had a tidy game today as well so I was pleased for him.
"As it stands Jack's (Coulson) appearance was a one off. We got an injury to Gareth who twisted his knee on Saturday and as it stood the only other option we had, because Chris Mawbey is taking some time out for personal reasons, was to drop Matt Hill in there.
"Obviously, we had to make that change because we had to take Jamie Barrett off near the end with a tight hamstring but Jack is a one off. He actually starts a suspension on Wednesday for a sending off in the UniBond a couple of weeks ago. We asked Mickleover yesterday as we were trying all sorts of options to bring somebody in and we managed to get Jack in but we'll see, we'll monitor the situation and if he doesn't get regular games for Mickleover he's registered with us now.
"For Saturday against Dunkirk we may have Stef (Marshall) back. We are desperate to get Stef back into the squad so we've given him the full weekend off, both games, because he's still feeling his hamstring.
"We'll train on Thursday and have a look at Stef and see how he's shaping up. We'll have to see how Gareth Langford is. He did the warm up today but his knee gave way a couple of times here today so that is a concern.
"We've been on the phone trying to bring a central defender in to cover us. Paul Edwards is available in two games time so until then we are trying to bring an extra body in. Fortunately Jack's done really well today but his ban starts on Wednesday so it's frustrating.
"It was all about the next game and we've won three points today against a hardworking outfit. It's a nice place to come with nice facilities but against sides like Radcliife who we played on Saturday we've got to make sure we can stand up physically against sides and at the moment that's a concern.
"We try to do our home work on all the sides but Dunkirk we haven't done much on but it's more about concentrating on ourselves and worrying about ourselves and if we play anywhere near the capability we can play then we haven't got to worry too much.
"We'll do some prep work before next Saturday and see how it goes but we are just concentrating on ourselves."
