East Midlands Counties League
Bardon Close, Bardon, Coalville
Saturday, 3rd April 2010, 3.00pm
Red Hot Gresley Demolish League Leaders
Gresley put on a blistering performance to deal a blow to league leaders Bardon Hill Sports title hopes on their own ground.
A goal in under 20 seconds by Royce Turville began what became in the end a very comfortable victory with further goals from Brian Woodall, Jordi Gough, Mickey Lyons and Stefan Marshall completing the rout.
Gresley took the lead when a long punt up field by keeper Gary Hateley caught out the Bardon back line and with the home keeper Ben Hall quickly advancing Turville managed to get a touch on the ball to nudge the ball past Hall and a defender and into the empty net.
On 5 minutes Tom Land went close to doubling the score when he headed Gough's free kick narrowly wide. Woodall then had a good chance but his shot was well blocked by Hall's legs.
Sports themselves had three decent chances soon afterwards with Aaron Preston firing over when well placed and then top scorer Jake Duffy followed suit hitting his shot out of the ground. A low corner from the right by Duffy gave defender Adam Griffiths the best of the lot but again the final shot was poor as the ball sailed once more well over the bar.
It was David Blenkinsopp's turn to have a go and it took another good block by Hall with his legs to deny the front runner.
Sports were awarded a corner from the left taken by Duffy. The ball landed just right for Scot Telfer but Gresley keeper Hateley was up to the task and made a fine block.
The best chance for the home side came on 28 minutes when Duffy found himself in on goal but with Hateley racing out of his goal he tried to lift the ball over the keeper but his effort went well over the bar.
A superb cross field pass from Blenkinsopp picked out Woodall on the right but his shot flashed across the goal and past the far post. At the other end former Moatman Liam Hebbered made a good run down the right only to shoot wide of the target.
With time almost up in the first half Woodall collected the ball on the right, cut inside and from 20 yards out fired an unstoppable shot that left Hall grasping at thin air.
Within 3 minutes of the re-start Gresley added another goal. Gough down the left fired a cross-cum-shot that sailed over Hall's head and into the far top corner.
On 52 minutes Bardon were reduced to 10 men but to be honest the game was over for them by then. Duffy showed his frustration by scything down Adam Betteridge from behind and the referee Mr Rowbotham had no hesitation in showing a straight red card.
Blenkinsopp and Turville combined well to carve out another chance but Turville's shot at the far post was blocked by Hall.
Gresley added goal number four on 66 minutes when a defender was caught dithering and Lyons stole the ball then chipped the most delicate of lobs over the keeper and into the far corner of the net.
It was only a matter of time before the visitors added to their tally and it came on 74 minutes. A long ball was collected by substitute Stefan Marshall who beat the onrushing keeper and then coolly rolled the ball into the net.
This was one of the best performances of the season and Gresley thoroughly deserved all their goals and points
Manager's View
Martin Rowe
"I thought that was the best ninety minutes of the season, a five-nil win, you can't really ask for more than that.
"Sometimes we get criticised for trying to play too much football. This time we went direct and within fourteen seconds it's in the back of the net - great start. I felt that they never really recovered from that. We dominated the game from then on, they had one or two chances but other than that we've done really well today.
"As Gary Norton keeps saying we just keep going one game at a time and that's all we're concentrating on now. We've got Ellistown on Monday and we're just going to keep going. All we can do now is win games.
"I haven't looked at the league table for quite some time. I'll look at the league table after the last game. All we can keep doing is winning games. It's just a shame that we've had so many players out because I'm sure that if we'd have had those players we wouldn't be in the position we are now.
"We scored five goals today and it's good to be able to share them about but I thought the cheekiest goal was Mickey Lyons the chip over a six foot plus keeper - great!
"I was very disappointed with Bardon, I thought they were a better team than that but we never let them play. We closed them down in every position and worked really hard at our game and in the end the best team won.
"We are not looking to make any major changes for Monday. We've just seen Carl Slater's ankle which doesn't look very good so he'll be one of our doubts but Brian Woodall has come through ninety minutes, Tom Betteridge is not far off and Jack Coulson is not far off now.
"Rob Spencer was missing today. His wife has just had a baby so our thoughts are with Rob as he's got to look after his family before football."
