East Midlands Counties League
Bardon Close, Bardon, Coalville
Monday, 3rd January 2011, 1.00pm
Lacklustre Gresley Slip Up
It was not a very happy start to the New Year as Gresley let a good chance of staying at the top of the league slip away with a truly lacklustre display at Bardon Hill.
All six goals came in the second half after a fairly dour first half with the visitors having the better chances that they couldn't put away.
Both sides played a cagey first 20 minutes with Paul O'Callaghan going closest with a header that flew past the upright.
Gresley first half chance came seven minutes later when Brian Woodall flicked on a header to David Blenkinsopp who tried to lob the keeper Ryan Murphy who was off his line but his effort just cleared the bar.
Jake Duffy then had a half chance for the home sode but his shot on the turn went straight into Gary Hateley's arms.
The visitors should have gone in at the interval a goal up but a decent save from Murphy saw the keeper get a fingertip on Blenkinsopp's header to nick it on to the post and then back into his arms.
Gresley found themselves a goal down with just three minutes of the second half on the watch. Duffy, who looked suspiciously offside picked up on a slip by a Gresley defender and made no mistake slipping the ball past Hateley.
Woodall went close minutes later putting a header over the bar from Rob Spencer's cross. However the action went down to the other end and Barry Woolley inexplicably decided to dribble the ball instead of kicking it out of the ground and was robbed by Carl Benson who gleefully ran on and beat Hateley with a shot.
Five minutes later Gresley were again the authors of their own downfall when Richard Butler's clumsy tackle in the area on Duffy gave the referee no option but to point to the spot. Martin Fox sent Hateley the wrong way with his kick.
On 66 minutes Gresley almost conceded another but Hateley managed to push Fox's free kick away from the top corner.
The last twenty minutes of the game saw Gresley finally come to life with substitute Royce Turville having a header tipped over by Murphy.
Gresley managed to reduce the deficit when Barrett's free kick was headed back for Blenkinsopp to rifle into the net.
With 10 minutes remaining Gresley scored again when Mickey Lyons' cross field pass picked out Woodall who cut inside and hit an unstoppable shot past Murphy.
Bardon looked very shakey and Gresley threw everything at them trying to get a leveller but the home side unfortunately began to use blatant time wasting tactics infuriating the large travelling support.
Gresley almost grabbed the goal they were looking for when Turville turned in the area but his shot went straight at Murphy.
With the visitors pressing forward they were caught cold when Bardon scored on the break in the seventh minute of added on time. Former Moatman Alex Bolt, who apparently had been injured seconds earlier, was allowed a run down the right which ended with a shot that beat Hateley and ended in the far corner.
Manager's View
"It wasn't the start to the New Year we wanted but we contributed to our own downfall. I thought we were fairly solid in the first half and had the better of the chances. Their keeper made a cracking save just before half time when he tipped a David Blenkinsopp header onto the post and then recovered well.
"We used the ball fairly well in the first half and we were quite pleased and we said that we needed to keep things tight. It's been a while since we've conceded in the league to be honest.
"Our last league game was six weeks ago and we had to make changes because of illness. We had two players in the side who wasn't fit enough to be involved on Thursday night but were in the side today because we were down to bare bones. Barry Woolley has a bit of a chest infection. He did well in the first half but he cost us the second goal.
"We got hit off the break for the first goal which was disappointing and we just got opened up. There were calls for offside but you can't rely on that and the guy has gone through and put them one-nil up and that was the time we needed to keep it tight and make sure we didn't concede again. Unfortunately Barry got caught on the ball. He's one of the most experienced players we've got but it happens and he gave the ball away and they went two-nil up.
"We were then looking to re-group and then another of our experienced players Richard Butler gave a penalty away with a rash tackle in the box and seemingly the game was over at three-nil. But we believe in this set of lads and fair play to them they gave it a cracking go and got two goals back. We didn't just have enough in locker to get the third and them they hit us when we had bodies up with the fourth. Overall it was an entertaining game but from our point of view we are disappointed we lost it.
"We've got a game we don't really need on Wednesday at Glossop and we'll have to see how we shape up for that one. We have two league games coming up but it's not in our hands and it wasn't in our hands before today to be honest but there is such a long way to go.
"We had a good opportunity today to get a point or maybe three to keep the pressure on at the top and we've not taken it. It's so frustrating to have had so long off and know we literally have half the squad out through a virus. I'm sure lots of clubs have a similar thing so it's not an excuse.
"I thought we did well enough offensively but didn't quite take our chances but defensively we were left wanting. It's a shame because up to this point in the league we've been defending really well so it's obviously it's something we'll have to work on.
"Looking forward to Wednesday the only one with a real chance to play from those missing today is Danny Holmes. Jordi Gough may do but he's been immobile for a couple of days and there was an outside chance he may have sat on the bench.
"We've had to register our coach Martyn Rowntree and name him in the squad today because that's how stretched we are. We have got a few lads who need the pitch time. Royce Turville, who came off the bench today and did well. Even on the bench we had Tom Land, who picked an ankle knock up on Thursday night, was there as an absolute emergency. Chris Bate has been ill and is not one hundred percent fit.
"Hopefully we can get one or two back. We have been talking about getting one or two bodies in, in the last few weeks and we'll assess it over the next few weeks. The Derbyshire Senior Cup is not a priority but the next few league games and we're hoping to bounce back and go on another long run because it had been a long time since we'd been beaten."
