FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round Replay
St John's Park, Heather
Tuesday, 18th August 2009, 7.45pm
Cup Exit For Gresley
Gresley can have no complaints has they slipped out of the FA Cup in the Extra Preliminary Round replay at Heather St John's
Heather had shown their intentions by bravely fighting back from two nil down after eighty minutes to force a replay at the Moat and they continued where they left off.
More determined in the tackle, quicker to the ball and accurate passing gave the home side the majority of the play and when former Moatman Chris Waldrum hammered home the winner on 69 minutes no could have argued that they didn't deserve their win and a visit to Rainworth in the next round.
Heather had the better chances in a scrappy first period with Matt Moore squandering a good chance after just 2 minutes and Ashley Spence firing wide from distance.
Gresley's one and only clear chance on goal should have given them the lead but Jamie Barrett's free header from Matt Hill's cross went straight into keeper Tom Gutteridge's arms.
Simon Baldwin, who was to rescue his side on several occasions, then made a superb save at the other end to deny Waldrum and soon after Andy Spencer fired a cross-cum-shot just over as Heather threatened.
Moore, who had only the keeper to beat after being put through, was thwarted by the outstretched leg of Baldwin as the first half drew to a close.
Heather looked far more hungry for success in the second period with Spencer's deft chip just clearing the bar and Baldwin making fine blocks from Spencer and Andy Hill all within the first 10 minutes of the restart.
On 68 minutes Heather's Waldrum went inches from giving his side the lead when he spotted Baldwin well off his line but the audacious chip from distance flew just wide of the post.
Heather only had to wait a minute to open the scoring when a long punt up field found Waldrum deep in the Gresley half and after a couple of touches drilled the ball into the net despite Baldwin getting a hand to it.
A rare Gresley chance came when Paul Edwards picked out Tom Betteridge on the left but the final shot hit the side netting.
Heather looked likely to add to their tally with Moore firing wide and a low shot from Waldrum well saved by Baldwin.
One glimmer of hope came with just a minute remaining when Gresley substitute Royce Turville was hacked down in the area but referee Mr Pettifer, who'd had a torrid evening, amazingly waved away the appeals.
Manager's View
"It was a very scrappy game - we didn't get started and the best team won on the evidence of that ninety minutes.
"It was frustrating because having been in the position where we should have seen the game out on Saturday we've come into tonight and we just didn't get going.
"A week ago we took a team apart in our league. Heather are a good side and finished fifth in their league at our level last year and they have some fantastic facilities and you couldn't wish to come to a better place.
"The pitch looked okay bit when you got on it, it was a bit lively and we do try and get the ball down and move it about but it didn't happen tonight.
"There were too many key players, big players within our team countless times gave the ball away cheaply and we are at a loss what to put the finger on.
"All our form pre-season getting the ball down, passing, moving, creating triangles, working the ball we had a side against us who gave us a lesson in that tonight.
"We gave the ball away time after time after time. Big players didn't perform and you can get away with one or two maybe but you can't get away with four or five like we did tonight.
"We've come to accept the performances of the officials to be discussed after the game at whatever level you're at, just look at what happened at the weekend but I don't want to get drawn into that because the officials didn't cost us tonight it was our own inability to perform has cost us.
"In our side Simon Baldwin and Paul Edwards maybe and possibly Jamie Barrett aside there's not many lads come out, Tom Betteridge maybe , with any credit.
"It's a shame because we had a couple of good chances, Jamie Barrett who should have done better with that, was the only clear-cut chance we made in the ninety minutes.
"It's frustrating because the quality we have in the dressing room we've got to be passing the ball and retaining possession a lot better than we've done tonight.
"We are still missing a few players but we were stronger tonight than we were on Saturday but you could say that Heather were as well who made a few changes tonight but again the eleven who were out there tonight were more than capable; a very, very strong eleven.
"We may have half a chance of Stefan Marshall being fit for Saturday but we'll have to have a look on Thursday to see how his hamstring is shaping up. I think that's what we lacked the pace as you could see what two quick powerful forwards did for them tonight. The times they turned us and put us under pressure.
"We are missing that at the moment having Stef out the squad. Rob Spencer is going to be another week or so, Royce (Turville) has come on second half tonight and we'll have to see if he's aggravated his thigh problem or not and Tom Betteridge came off towards the end after starting to cramp up so hopefully he hasn't done any damage to his hamstring.
"Paul Edwards has done a job for us but the next few weekends he'll be cricketing. Jordi Gough should be back and maybe have a run out with the Reserves on Saturday but he's probably a couple of run outs with the reserves yet before he'll be in contention for the first team.
"But, the message to the lads is that we stick together. We've had a poor week - the last ten minutes Saturday and tonight so we've got to look at ourselves and try and dig ourselves out of that. We've been here before with Gresley Rovers and no doubt we'll be here again.
"As Martin Rowe has just said in the dressing room that there'll be many ups and downs this season but there will be more ups than downs.
"It's frustrating we've missed out tonight but it makes us even more determined to come back stronger I hope!"
