East Midlands Counties League
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Monday, 5th April 2010, 3.00pm
Hard Work But Three Points
Gresley were made to work hard for their three points at the Moat Ground against a determined Ellistown and it took two first half goals from Brian Woodall and Royce Turville to break them down.
For the first 15 minutes Gresley found it hard to settle as Ellistown pressed forward looking to shock their hosts bit it was the home side who went closest.
On 14 minutes sheer pandemonium in the visitor's box looked certain to end in a goal but even though the ball pinged about like a pin ball game it refused to cross the line.
However, two minutes later Gresley were in front. A free kick from Mickey Lyons eventually landed at the feet of Woodall who gladly took the invitation and smashed the ball home from close in.
If Gresley thought that would open the flood gates they were sadly mistaken although they did go close two minutes later when Lyons fed the ball to Turville but Ellistown keeper Paul Madeley bravely dived at the striker's feet to grab the ball off his toes.
Ellistown drove forward with former Moatman Carl Eagling sending over a cross from the right that Richard Lewis got on the end of but at the looping effort seemed to heading into the net Gresley keeper Gary Hateley did very well to tip the ball over the bar.
Adam Betteridge then made a good run down the left and his cross picked out Woodall but the glancing header went the wrong side of the far upright. Woodall then went close minutes later firing into the side netting and he then played David Blenkinsopp a pass who curled a good attempt just wide of the far post.
On the hour mark Ellistown's Martin Fox had a half chance but lifted his effort well over the bar. The action then went to the other end with Adam Betteridge making a great run down the left before firing an on target shot that was deflected for a corner.
Gresley had a good penalty shout on 41 minutes when Jamie Barrett was tripped in the area only for referee Mr Richardson to wave away the appeals.
The home side needed a second goal and it came right on the half time whistle. Gareth Langford picked out Carl Slater with a pass but the midfielder missed his kick and the ball fell nicely for Turville to took one touch before slipping the ball past Madeley.
The second half was a scrappy affair with neither side managing to get hold of the game. Lyons did have two attempts on goal but his first effort flew well over the bar and his second wide of the mark.
It wasn't until the 74th minute that there were any decent attempts on goal in the second half and that came from Slater. The midfielder was driving through the middle and hit a tremendous shot that Madeley did well to push away for a corner.
Gresley did have two further chances to increase their lead in the final minutes of the game. Blenkinsopp was put through and raced forward but his shot was well blocked by the legs of Madeley and from the resultant corner Tom Land was unlucky to see his shot take a last second deflection to prevent the ball creeping inside the near post.
Manager's View
"We just didn't get going today, it was a bit 'after the Lord Mayor's show' to be honest. We were concerned about it if I'm honest. You play that well and all of a sudden the expectation levels are through the roof.
"We've ground it out today and there's been many times this season when we've thrown points away and I wished we'd have had that sort of performance we just grind out the three points and pick the bones out of it afterwards.
"I thought we were a little fortuitous to have kept a clean sheet today, and I thought the reason we kept a clean sheet in the first half was Jamie Barrett who seemed to hold us together a little bit.
"Ellistown put us under a lot of pressure in certain situations especially in the first half and in the second half we defended quite well and for the most part kept them at arm's length. Gary Hateley didn't have many saves to make in fairness and we always seemed to be in control of the game without really opening Ellistown up.
"They were very organised, very hard working, very resolute and they've put a good shift in today also we just lacked that bit of fluidity and creativity and that little bit of a cutting edge at the other end of the pitch as well.
"But, we got the goals and we kept a clean sheet. That's two on the bounce, a bit like buses really. You don't keep one for ten or eleven games and then you keep two on the bench but at this stage of the season it's all about points. Obviously we've got the three points today and we can now concentrate on the next game at Heanor.
"Let's not forget that before today Bardon have been eighteen points clear of us and are at the top for a reason and that's because they've been the best side so far this season but Ellistown, look at the table and I told the lads it's nothing, it's not a yard stick at all really because you take each game on its merit. You have to work hard and you have to earn the right to play football and with the likes of Carl Timms and Carl Eagling in the side they are good quality players.
"I was impressed with both of them today. There energy levels were good and I don't think Carl Eagling has played many ninety minutes from what I can hear recently but he turned and twisted our defenders all over the shop and he's got some quality and it showed again today.
"He put in some cracking balls into the box and got on the end of some stuff and they've worked hard and they'll feel unlucky that they've come away with nothing for it in terms of a goal maybe.
"But, having said that I thought we were worth the three points but we've never got out of second gear.
"The pitch was very lively today, it was very dry and with a blustery wind and that's not looking for excuses because it was the same for both teams but maybe a mitigating factor in why we couldn't get going today as we would have liked especially after Saturday.
"I said to the guys at half time that the game could go one of two ways. It could be a scrappy second half and we'd have to dig in or we could go and try and get a foot on the ball and stretch Ellistown and create some chances and run out comfortable winners but it went the first way in terms of it being a tight and scrappy affair.
"The key to the game was that second goal. If we'd have gone in at one-nil instead of two-nil then maybe a few more nerves would have crept in and they'd been in with a chance of snatching an equaliser and we tend to get a little bit nervous when sides score against us so I'm pleased they didn't as we'd worked hard for the clean sheet.
"They dropped Martin Fox into the back for the second half but I don't think it was damage limitation. Fox is a good player and he can read a game very, very well and they've had a couple of injuries as well which caused them to shuffle things around a little bit and they still looked quite tidy at the back.
"Let's not forget we had a game forty eight hours ago which was probably more intense in terms of the effort we put into it compared to Ellistown but I'm saying that off the cuff without having seen their game.
"We put a lot into Saturday's game, a lot into it and the front two worked their socks off and have worked their socks off again today. Maybe a little bit of that was evident today as there were a lot of tired limbs out there.
"We are taking each game as it comes and we've got our three points today and we are jus focussing on a tough challenge at Heanor. We, hopefully, finally get the chance to meet Heanor again Craig Hopkins and Glen Kirkwood. I think we've had three attempts to play them this season and they've all been called off so it will be nice to finally see them and to go back to Heanor. We were there for the League Cup semi-final of course. Heanor are a good side and both sides will be looking to get the three points.
"Hopefully we will be travelling up to Heanor with a stronger side than we took there the last time. We will be training later in the week and we hope we don't pick any injuries up. It was nice to see Tom Betteridge back on the pitch and we've got Jack Coulson putting pressure on the centre halves now. Two clean sheets came at an opportune time for the defenders because Jack's back and Brian Woodall's had another ninety minutes today so in terms of injuries touch wood and I will touch wood, we seem to be getting strong right at a good time because we've got competition in the squad.
"We'll also have to asses if new signing Tommy Leighton is available on a Saturday but the midweek games coming up he'll hopefully come into the fold as well and give us a little bit more attacking strength.
"Rob Spencer was back today having missed the weekend and we should have Stefan Marshall back who had to work today so at the moment our squad strength and depth is looking good.
"Just a word about Adam Betteridge. He's had a long time out of the side and he's come back and he's been magnificent. He's got a little knee knock which we are a little worried about but he's doing really well for us at the moment.
"I' sure Chris Gray would turn out for us if we needed him but his priority at the moment is with his family. Rob Spencer is in a similar position; he's just got to see how his partner is and what support she needs. It's a tough time when you've just had a baby and that's where these lads need their priorities their home life."
