East Midlands Counties League
The O-kra Ground Holbrook
Wednesday, 17th February 2010, 7.45pm
Miners Dig Out The Points
Gresley's title hopes were dented when they visited The O-kra Ground Holbrook on a cold, wet and misty evening. Another large away following saw what could arguably have been one of the worst performances of the season from their side.
On a very heavy pitch the standard of the game was set by some very heavy tackles and some abject officiating with three yellow cards shown in a three minute spell. One of the yellow cards given to Joe Kellogg in all honesty should have been a straight red as he cynically tackled Jack Coulson.
The game was not in any way a footballing spectacle due to the very dodgy surface but playing up the slope it was the visitors who had the first half chance when a shot from Carl Slater was blocked.
Neither side seemed to get a grip on the conditions but somewhat against the run of play at the time The Brookies took the lead from a set play. A free kick by Dave Moon found its way through a ruck of players in the area and Paul Campbell was on hand to scuttle the ball home at the far post.
The second half was not much better than the first with the home side looking more determined all across the park.
However, within three minutes of the re-start Gresley were pressing and Royce Turville made a fine run down the left with his shot being well saved by Brookies keeper Damian Clark.
Gresley then forced four successive corners but could not capitalise on them and still the 'industrial' tackles were evident.
On 58 minutes a long looping shot from Slater had Clark scrambling back and just managing to push the effort over the bar. Two more corners followed but again Gresley just couldn't use the opportunities to punish the home side.
Coulson was unluckily to be shown the yellow card as he showed his frustration to the poor refereeing by throwing the ball down as once more the wrong decision had been given.
Another poor decision awarded a free kick on the left that led to Holbrook extending their lead. Matt Hiil had clearly won the ball but referee Mr Seward thought otherwise. The ball was pushed forward by Moon to Karl Demidh who crossed the ball in from the left bye line and again picked out a home player this time Thom Kellogg who was able to slot the ball in from close in.
To be honest Gresley didn't look likely to score except for a flicked header that Clark did well to keep out at his near post.
Gresley keeper Gary Hateley had not had a save to make all game but was tested on 72 minutes but the shot by Moon flashed by the far post.
The visitors' dreadful evening was made even worse when Coulson saw red with nine minutes remaining. A very poor tackle by the defender gave the referee no option but to show a straight red but if only the official had done the same within the first 16 minutes of the game who knows what the outcome of the match would have been?
The final few minutes saw the game drift away and the final whistle thankfully ended what had been a dismal night for Gresley at Holbrook.
Manager's View
"We've been undone by two set pieces tonight although we've only had two goals scored against us in the last seven or eight league games so we may have a bit of work to do on them.
"That's not what cost us the game tonight it was that we just didn't get going. I've got no complaints about the result. I think we fashioned just one chance all night which is most unlike us. I think it's the first time this season that we haven't scored in the league and it was only Holbrook's third clean sheet in the league.
"We've not performed tonight and I've no complaints about the result. Credit to Holbrook, they had a game plan and I've just been talking to their gaffer and they've worked on set play delivery and maybe we've not held the line tight enough but we can't have too many complaints on the night from the balance of what we've seen.
"It was quite possible that their lads were more up for it than us. We did everything we could to make sure we prepared the lads right and we knew what we were coming in to. Holbrook have got a very, very good home record - unbeaten - and you could see why because they are very strong.
"But, we've done everything we could to get the lads up for it and in fairness to them from their body language they seemed up for it but I'm not going to hammer the lads as that was the first defeat against a team at our level in twenty five games.
"Rather than castigate our lads we just say 'okay you start another run.' I'd rather concentrate on congratulating Holbrook and saying well done to them and seeing how we react which is the most important thing - how we react and can we go on another long run?
"We've had seven straight league wins but we've had a set back tonight. We are literally just half way in the league campaign so we don't need to panic or get carried away. There are a lot more sides come here and drop points.
"We didn't get going tonight, we had an off day and in fairness to anyone who was here tonight who wants to pull us apart for that I can't fault the lads because since mid September it was out first off day. Even when we lost to Belper we played very, very well and lost in the Derbyshire Cup.
"I've got my personal view on the tackle early in the game. It was exactly the same that Jack Coulson got a straight red for but I don't want to discuss the tackles or the officials. Holbrook deserved to win at the end of the day.
"We know they're physical and get stuck in. They were moaning that we go down and that sort of thing but our disciplinary record this season has been superb. I think we've had twenty five or twenty six yellow cards in all of the games we've played and one red card which was tonight and that's all I've got to say on the matter.
"Looking forward to Saturday, it's a bit early to say what injuries we've got. One positive was that we got Brian Woodall back on the pitch and he seems to have come through it okay. We are hoping to have Tom Betteridge a bit nearer fitness and Gareth Langford missed tonight.
"Gareth would have love that game tonight; he would have absolutely loved it getting involved in the physical stuff out there so we'll have a look. It's Wednesday and we've got a couple of days to sit down and look at things for Saturday."
