FA Vase First Round
The Hawthornes, Brigg
Saturday, 3rd October 2009, 3.00pm
Vase Success For Gresley
Gresley's trip to the North Lincolnshire home of Brigg Town to face Grimsby Borough in the First Round of the FA Vase reaped dividends as goals from Rob Spencer, Jamie Barrett and Brian Woodall saw the visitors through to the next round.
Playing against a very stiff wind blowing from end to end Gresley opened well with Mark Blount putting a header just wide and Brian Woodall having a shot blocked by home keeper Lee Graves all within the first six minutes.
Eight minutes later, however, Gresley took the lead as a result of a fast flowing move between Woodall and Mickey Lyons ending with a pass to Spencer who slotted the ball home from close in.
Gresley could have increased their lead minutes later when Gareth Langford headed Lyons' corner just over the bar. Woodall then went close with a dipping shot that again just cleared the bar.
Grimsby then made their first attempt on goal with just five minutes remaining of the first half. Luke Fanthorpe beat the offside trap and raced forward but Gresley keeper Simon Baldwin did well to block the shot with his legs.
The home side went even closer three minutes later with the aid of the wind. A long punt by keeper Graves was left by Blount and the ball bounced over Baldwin, who was off his line, but thankfully the wrong side of the post.
Lyons was inches from increasing Gresley's lead when Tom Betteridge took advantage of a mix up in the home defence but the final shot from Lyons flew wide of the far post.
The second half saw Spencer given a chance but his final shot was rushed and lacked any pace allowing a Borough defender to clear off the line with the keeper beaten.
Graves then made a good save to deny Woodall and the action moved to the other end where Baldwin emulated the action saving well from Nathan Enison.
Borough were having their best spell of the game and Baldwin came to rescue again on 56 minutes when Lee Stephenson received a quick free kick, turned and hit a tremendous low shot that the keeper did well to block at his near post.
The best chance for Borough came just 4 minutes later when a cross from Stephenson picked out Enison who managed to fire wide of an open goal.
Borough were to rue their missed chances because on 66 minutes Gresley doubled their advantage. Woodall did extremely well to control the ball and laid it off for Barrett who hit a first time shot that beat the keeper and flew into the top corner.
Gresley increased the pressure and went close to adding to their total when a Langford cross found Spencer who's first shot was blocked but he put the rebound over the bar.
The third Gresley goal came on 75 minutes when the wind held up Graves's kick only for Woodall to collect and then fire his shot past the keeper and into the far corner.
Blount went c lose with a header that was blocked and substitute Chris Burnham put the rebound just wide.
Borough got their consolation with just 6 minutes remaining when Stephenson was put through. The striker hit the upright with his shot but Oswin was on hand to tap in the rebound from close in.
Manager's View
"I feel happier today than the last couple of Saturday's when we probably played better with the ball than we have today and not got the wins.
"Today we've put in a fairly solid performance I think and but for a fifteen - twenty minute spell in the second half when they were pushing bodies forward and picking up a lot more second balls in the half and put us under a lot of pressure defensively.
"We'd only got the one goal then but we managed to get the second goal and I think at that point when we got the third the game was over despite a spirited display from the opposition.
"The second goal came just at the right time after they had had two or three very good chances. Frustratingly before that we had the big chance when Rob Spencer rolled the ball towards an empty net but he just didn't get hold of it. I don't think he knew he had the time that he did.
"Then we had a fantastic effort from Brian Woodall. The ball was swerving in the air and the keeper did really well to save it but the ball bounced short of Spencer and over him. They were two big chances.
"They'd had two or three real close cut things where it easily could have been one- one. Fortunately we went up to the other end and got the second which was a great strike from Jamie Barrett. I think Jamie should be on ten goals already this season, I think he's on three or four and a couple of those are penalties. He's had a decent effort and it's hit the back of the net for the relief of everyone around us.
"I'm pleased we had Mark Blount today and we are going to have discussions with him to see if we can get him on a more regular basis. He's not available next week but we've had a chat to see if he will play for us on a more regular basis and he's going to have a think about it.
"He's enjoying his football and it was another very, very tidy sured display from him this afternoon. The thing Mark gives us is that little bit of composure in the back four, that little bit of communication. You can see when he comes out of defence with the ball his range of passing, there was one in particular probably the pass of the season so far, Mark give you that and the players alongside him like Gareth Langford come out of their shells and did really, really well.
"We've got to be patient on that one. There will be a change in our defence next week because Mark is not available again.
"Jack Coulson was recalled by Mickleover today because of their injury crisis and it depends on what that situation is.
"I'm a little concerned if I'm honest. Paul Edwards will help us out if necessary in an emergency. Paul has his University and work commitments but we also have the option of doing what we did earlier in the season by dropping Jamie Barrett back into defence with Gareth Langforth if that need arises.
"It's going to be a tough one next week because, I don't know how they've got on today, Radcliffe are unbeaten so far and we are very much looking forward to the game."
