Pre-Season Friendly
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Tuesday, 20th July 2010, 7.45pm
Friendly Defeat For Gresley
Gresley can think themselves very unlucky in a match that for large periods they were the better side. A couple of defensive slips and a goal that looked offside gave the score-line an unjust look about it.
The home side were without defenders Jack Coulson, Tom Land and striker Royce Turville but into the line-up came young striker Richard Hanslow for his first game for Gresley and also the welcome return of Oliver Hancock. Matt Hill and Rob Spencer also returned after missing the Rocester game.
Moat Ground favourite David Blenkinsopp was also in the line-up but unfortunately for the home fans for Sutton Coldfield Town!
It was Blenkinsopp who was first to threaten but was denied by a fine block from Gresley keeper Gary Hateley.
The first chance for the home side came on 18 minutes when Lee Sutton managed to get a touch on a through ball but Town's keeper Paul Keeling made a fine save pushing the ball away for a corner.
Town took the lead on 25 minutes when a good cross from the left bye-line picked out Jimmy Quinan who smashed the ball home from close in.
They almost doubled their lead thirteen minutes later when Harry Harris struck a low shot that Hateley did well to get a hand to prevent the attempt from flying into the net.
Gresley were back on terms within two minutes of the start of the second half when a good flowing move down the left ended with Adam Betteridge sending over a cross to Brian Woodall whose shot beat Keeling.
On 59 minutes Gresley were responsible for going behind again when Hateley's poor clearance fell to Hill who couldn't control the ball and Craig Milligan took advantage shooting past the keeper.
A minute later Town made it three when a through ball was collected by Harry Harris who looked a yard offside and he duly beat Hateley from 12 yards.
Hancock then made a good run down the right and crossed into the area where Woodall was inches away from connecting with the ball.
Woodall was in the thick of things again moments later when he fired a fierce cross into the area and Hanslow almost got a touch after sliding in at the far post.
On 70 minutes Hanslow was denied by two fine blocks in succession from Keeling and ten minutes later he was denied again by the keeper after the striker had turned his marker before firing a low drive that Keeling held on to.
With five minutes remaining Gresley skipper Carl Slater went close volleying Hanslow's header just over the bar.
Town scored their fourth and it was another defensive error that handed it to them. Rhys Powell was caught in two minds on the bye-line but instead of taking the safe option and putting the ball out for a corner he dallied long enough to be robbed of the ball and the resultant cross was slotted home by Sam Willis.
Gresley scored their deserved second goal at the end of the game when Jordi Gough's run down the left resulted in a cross that Hanslow managed to scramble home.
Manager's View
"To be honest I'm quite excited at what I saw although we lost the game four-two. Anyone here tonight would have seen some very positive stuff from us.
"The disappointing thing was the sloppiness that led to the three goals in the second half because they were all avoidable. Gary (Hateley) doesn't often make a mistake but he sliced a clearance that led to the second goal which was frustrating having worked hard to get back on level terms.
"The final two goals were avoidable as well but as long as we learn from that and defend properly and concentrate.
"There were far more positives than negatives tonight and anyone who watched the match the overall balance of play they would have been hard pressed to have picked out the Evo-Stik side from the East Midlands Counties side
"Brian Woodall can come on as a substitute and impact the game. We left him out today because we want to swap it around and give everyone as many starts as possible. Brian was a little bit tired because he's had to change his work about. He's on afternoons this week so he worked until late yesterday and he went in early this morning so it was our intention to get him off the bench and he's gone on and got the equaliser early in the second half and did very well.
"There were lots of positives tonight particularly with our forward play. The other big positive, we've got four centre halves signed on and Jamie Barrett started and after fourteen minutes limped off and we haven't got a recognised centre half in the team.
"Everyone of those who played in the back four for the rest of the game were all playing out of position and I thought they were superb, absolutely brilliant particularly Richard Butler, he was absolutely fantastic.
"Jamie came off because he could feel his hamstring so there was no messing about just get off the pitch get some ice on it and do some stretching off. He'll have Thursday night off training - his hamstring just feels tight. Jamie has missed a fair bit of pre-season due to holidays. Saturday was his first game and obviously just feeling a bit tight after that so regardless of how many centre halves we'd got on the pitch or in the squad there was no point, with a little over three weeks to go, in risking it so get off the pitch and we'll have a look at the versatility in the squad and put somebody else in there.
"Royce Turville reported a little bit tight during Saturday's game and again it was no use having on the pitch. He rested up over the weekend and it's still a little bit tight so he's gone to see a physio tonight because Emma Smith our physio is on holiday until tomorrow and we'll have a look at him on Thursday and see how he's shaping up for Saturday's game. It's no use risking anything at this time of the season. There are one or two other lads we took off like Tom Betteridge for example was a little bit tight at halftime so we brought him off early.
"At the moment we are having to put sides out depending on people's availability. Gareth Langford is on a course and he's pulled his back this morning on a training run. He's been to see a chiropractor and he's back on Monday bit we don't know if he'll be fit enough to be involved. Jack Coulson is out of the country at the moment and comes back on Saturday but not in time for the game.
"Tom Land will be back for Saturday and then we've got Matt Hill who goes away for a few weeks on Sunday so it's hard to plan in your mind when you want your starting line-up because you don't know what's around the corner availability wise, work commitments, injuries and things.
"Ideally, we would like to field our strongest side for the last three friendlies with a view to the opening league game.
"We've arranged an extra friendly. We are going to do a memorial game for Ken Hogg. His son Martin, who is at Newhall United as assistant manager, approached us and we've arranged for as many lads who are still in the country - around twelve are going away - and a few of the reserve lads and guest players for pitch time for those who need it.
"Richard Hanslow has signed tonight and we are delighted to have got him. He's had no pre-season games but he's been to two training sessions. He injured his ankle, went on holiday and when he came back caught a virus. Richard came to training last Thursday and said he would sign but he was too ill to train so he missed out on Saturday because he could still feel the bug he'd had. He came on tonight and got himself a goal and there were some really positive touches.
"We've been talking to Olive Hancock for a while and he's now got a job where he feels he can now commit to us and be regularly available and he's shown in just half an hour that he's exciting, he'll get at people and he'll get in the box and he'll go inside and outside. Olly isn't fit he needs to do some pre-season and we're hoping he can steer clear of injury because when he played for us previously at the start of last season it was stop start with injuries.
"Chris Bate has also signed tonight. He hit the post from a very good move but Richard Hanslow's disguised path let him in from full back which showed he can get forward well. Lee Sutton has also put pen to paper tonight so the squad is taking shape really nicely.
"I had a little side bet with Martin Rowe whether we could keep David Blenkinsopp out or not. We conceded four goals and Dave hasn't got one so we are delighted with that.
"You could see especially in the first half his movement was brilliant. We'd have loved to have kept him at the Moat ground but it was a big ask to try and keep him here at this level. Dave will do well at that level and get goals for fun for Sutton in the Evo-Stik. We wish him well, he's a great lad and he's always welcome at The Moat Ground as long as he doesn't score against us."
