East Midlands Counties League
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Tuesday, 30th March 2010, 7.45pm
Gresley Hit Holwell For Six
Gresley hit five second half goals to complete a comprehensive victory over Holwell Sports after Tom Land had given the home side the lead with his first senior goal for the club.
Quickly into their stride Gresley put Holwell under pressure forcing two corners in the first seven minutes and that pressure was to pay dividends four minutes later. Mickey Lyons' cross from the left picked out Land who powered home his header at the far post.
Gresley could have added further goals when Royce Turville's pass found David Blenkinsopp but the final shot went over the bar. The striker then had a shot blocked by Sports keeper Richard Cragg and the rebound fell to Adam Betteridge who delicately chipped the ball back towards goal but his attempt was cleared off the line by a defender.
Betteridge went close on 21 minutes when he made a fine run into the area only to fire across the goal and past the far post. Lyons then had a good attempt blocked by the keeper and then a Carl Slater pass down the right to Blenkinsopp almost yielded another goal but the shot was deflected over the bar as it headed towards the net.
The first half ended with Gresley amazingly just one goal to the good.
Gresley's second goal came on 53 minutes. A long kick down the left by home keeper Gary Hateley was expertly controlled by Blenkinsopp before being hammered past Cragg and into the far corner of the net.
Sports had one of their rare attempts on goal on 62 minutes but Joe Williams put his shot well over the bar.
Two minutes later Sports were to rue that miss as Gresley increased their lead. Rob Spencer made a fine run down the right and put over a perfect cross for Blenkinsopp to smash past Cragg from close in.
To Sports credit they didn't give up and indeed should have got on the score sheet themselves almost from the re-start. Substitute Ryan Whatley caught the Gresley defence knapping and raced forward unchallenged only to plant his shot well wide of the far post with only Hateley to beat.
Arguably, the goal of the game came on 71 minutes when Gough collected the ball in the middle of the park before unleashing a screamer of a shot from 30 yards that left Cragg helpless as the ball flew over his head and into the top of the net.
Gresley looked like they were going to add a few more to their tally. On 77 minutes Turville raced through the Sports back line but his shot was blocked by Cragg and Betteridge inexplicably fired the rebound wide of the far post.
The home supporters didn't have long to wait as goal number five came a minute later. Turville's run down the right ended with another inviting cross that substitute Brian Woodall accepted with glee smashing the ball into the net.
Sports did score a consolation goal when some sloppy defending allowed substitute Mark Tinsley to fire a low shot past Hateley.
However, Gresley weren't finished themselves. Turville collected Spencer's pass down the right but fired past the far post but goal number six came just a minute or so later in time added on.
Substitute Martin Gadsby's pass to Woodall enabled the striker to score his second goal of the game to complete what was a comfortable win in the end.
Manager's View
Martin Rowe
"Another good performance. I thought we did really well on Saturday and we've continued tonight. We are looking strong at the back for the first time for a couple of months and we are looking a far different side.
"David Blenkinsopp is a goal scorer. If we'd have had him earlier on we'd have been winning more games but unfortunately we've had quite a lot of players out and we've missed that natural goal scorer up front and that's what he gives us.
"Always look forward, never look backward now. All we are concentrating on now is the next match which is Bardon. What's gone is gone and all we can do now is to carry on winning games.
"We played Bardon at the Moat and it was one-none but we played well and it should have been more but we are going to Bardon nice and relaxed and going to enjoy the day.
"I thought Jordi Gough's goal was superb. He's looked up and picked the spot and put it straight in there - one of the best goals at this ground. I'm sure the supporters on the forum will tell me I'm wrong!
"In the past few games we've tried Jordi in the position he played tonight and he looks a very accomplished player and hopefully he can go on and become a better player.
"Martin Gadsby has been out and he's returning but as you could see he was a bit sluggish tonight but I'd imagine another week or so he'll be back to full fitness.
"Richard Butler has not played much but he'll keep sticking away for us and try and get his place
