East Midlands Counties League
The Moat Ground, Chuch Gresley
Saturday, 31st October 2009, 3.00pm
Gresley Battle Hard For Three Points
Gresley had to wait until the final 20 minutes of the game before the saw off a spirited Graham Street Prims.
Goals from Royce Turville, Stefan Marshall and debutant Martin Gadsby ensured that the home side continued their pressure on the league's leading pack.
Prims belied their lowly league position by taking the lead after 9 minutes when Gresley's defence allowed the ball to come to Simon Leatherland who beat keeper Gary Hateley from 12 yards.
As in the midweek game against Radcliffe Olympic Gresley responded and equalised four minutes later when a shot from Briam Woodall was deflected past keeper Daz Keeling.
Prims found themselves under pressure but Gresley couldn't get the ball in the net. Turville headed Jordi Gough's cross straight into the arms of Keeling and Jack Coulson headed Richard Butler's free kick narrowly over the bar.
The visitors went close on 31 minutes when Chris Davis's free kick was headed back from the far post into the danger area but no-one could knock the ball home.
Woodall's cross from the right was headed wide by Matt Weightman and with three minutes remaining of the first half a fine run by Carl Slater ended with a low shot that Keeling did well to push away for a corner.
Just as it looked like the half would finish level Gresley took the lead. A good move from defence saw Chris Gray send a fine ball to Gough on the left who volleyed home an unstoppable shot past Keeling.
Gresley started the second period strongly with shots from both Turville and Woodall being somehow blocked before a cross from Gough found Weightman who put the ball over the bar from close in.
It seemed as if it was going to be one of those frustrating afternoons when Prims equalised again as a result of some slack Gresley defending. A cross from Davis picked out Leatherland whose free header gave Hateley no chance.
Despite Gresley having the lion's share of the game another goal looked unlikely as more chances went begging.
However, on 70 minutes Gresley got the breakthrough they were looking for when Woodall's corner from the right was powerfully headed home by Turville.
That opened the flood gates as Gresley hit three more in the final nine minutes of the game. It was two of the home substitutes who combined to add the fourth goal as new signing Gadsby's cross found Marshall who slotted the ball home.
Marshall then went inches from extending the lead with a shot from distance that whistled over the bar, Turville put a header over and the latter's cross a mere fraction in front of Mickey Lyon's outstretched leg.
Prims were wilting under the pressure and a good move saw Gresley go further ahead when Tom Betteridge passed to Lyons who threaded the ball through for Marshall to hit home.
The final blow for Prims came on 93 minutes when Marshall picked out Gadsby down the right who coolly lobbed the ball over the stranded Keeling and into the unguarded net.
Manager's View
"I think today's result was better than the performance. I think the expectation level all around The Moat Ground today was that we were going to build on Tuesday.
"We were quick after Tuesday night's game to make sure that the lads were firmly grounded, that no complacency was creeping in at all, that we were focussed on today's game.
"You look at the league table and you think there's three points but it doesn't happen as easily as that and for a good portion of that game probably an hour we were making heavy weather of it.
"In fairness to Graham Street Prims the endeavour and the work rate more than matched us. In the first half they had a little bit more heart and desire than us and it was a bit flat. It was a bit flat on the terraces; it was a bit flat on the pitch.
"We made one forced change with Jack Coulson coming in for Mark Blount but it doesn't just happen like that. You don't just turn up and play scintillating football like we did the other night that was a special occasion and it clicked.
"It's not quite clicked today until the last twenty minutes of the game. Maybe a few weeks ago that would have been a game that may have petered out into a two, two draw and pleasingly we've turned it on in the last fifteen minutes and the class showed and everyone who came off the bench had a contribution.
"Blackwell was a similar game but we had a bit more space in and around midfield area. Blackwell it was quite literally backs to the wall with us camped just outside their box and it was shooting practice really.
"Today the game opened up a little bit. I don't know whether some of their lads tired a little. I've just said to the lads in the dressing room that just shows you why we need the squad. A couple of lads didn't get on today. We've got Gareth Langford who did the warm up today so hopefully he's over his hamstring.
"We've got Ollie (Oliver Hancock) who did part of the warm up and is back in training. We need this squad if we are going to achieve anything this year. Rob Spencer was due to be on the bench today but he called me to say his boss had insisted that he work Saturday and Sunday so unfortunately he was unavailable.
"Stef Marshall wasn't going to be involved today not knowing how he was going to react to the pre-match warm up. But he came through that okay and came off the bench and gave us food for thought. We are a little concern that it was a little too much too soon.
"We and spoke before the game whether we could get him a game or two or an hour or so in the reserves or if we organise another friendly in the next couple of weeks because he's going to be a big player for us.
"You've seen him come on and he has that bit of pace about him and power and he will cause problems.
"We have a clear week this week and then a clear week after the Holwell game so we may try and arrange a friendly for the week before the Vase game and maybe mix it with a few reserves and lads who need a little bit of fitness but we'll have to see.
"We are pleased with the three points today and it keeps us in touch with the top."
