East Midlands Counties League
Dakyn Road, Leicester
Saturday, 15th January 2011, 3.00pm
Gresley Back to Winning Ways
Gresley needed to come back from a goal down after Jordan Smith had converted a penalty early in the second half and they did through goals from David Blenkinsopp and Barry Woolley.
The game started with the visitors having to cope with a very strong wind blowing into their faces and a very wet, heavy pitch. To be truthful neither side mastered the conditions but Nirvana arguably had the better of the first half playing down the slope.
In a scrappy opening Gresley made the first half chance on 20 minutes when Blenkinsopp cushioned a header down for Brian Woodall who's low shot was parried by home keeper Chay Carter.
However, it was Nirvana who should have taken the lead five minutes later. A good run down the right produced a cross that picked out James Miller unmarked on the far side. He took a touch before hammering a low shot that cannoned back off the base of the upright and cleared by a Gresley defender.
The strong wind was responsible for many errors and misplaced passes and as the half closed it was Nirvana who threatened but even the chance from Alvin Jarvis was headed well wide.
The hope of seeing some goals for the travelling Gresley supporters almost was rewarded when Jordi Gough's corner from the right and helped by the wind, needed to be scrambled off the goal line away for another corner. This time taken by Woodall the ball found Woolley who fired a shot just wide.
Although Gresley were pressing they went behind on 54 minutes when Richard Butler's clumsy challenge near the bye-line on Don Smith gave referee no option but to point to the spot. Nirvana's prolific scorer Jordan Smith made no mistake hitting a low drive into the bottom corner.
To Gresley's credit they hit back immediately. Tom Betteridge's superb cross from the right was headed goalwards by Woodall which Carter saved and Blenkinsopp was on hand to ram the rebound home from close in.
The visitors were now getting to grips with the strong wind and a free kick from the right by Gough forced Carter into a save at his near post pushing the shot away for a corner and it was from this flag kick that Gresley took full advantage.
Carter, who'd not looked too confident with set plays, was nowhere near the ball as Gough slung in yet another inviting ball from the corner and Woolley was on hand to power home his header with the help of a home player.
Nirvana were visibly upset that the visitors were ahead and it overflowed in a very poor challenge minutes later on Woodall by Anton Amoo that saw Mr Gardner show a straight red card for the offence.
On 70 minutes Gresley went close to extending their lead when Gough sent in another fine and testing free kick that Carte needed two attempts to grab hold of.
With three minutes remaining of normal time Gresley substitute Mickey Lyons went close firing a shot fractionally past the far post after fellow substitute Royce Turville had held the ball up superbly.
Despite Nirvana putting the visiting defence under some pressure for the final few minutes it was Gresley who could have added another goal deep in injury time. A quick break down the right saw Woodall put over a cracking cross that found third substitute Adam Betteridge in the area but his volley was well saved by Carter diving to his right.
Manager's View
"I was delighted that we got back into the game so soon after their penalty. It was important because the longer we'd have given them to sit on that lead and frustrate us the harder it may have been to have got back into the game.
"It was a very tight game and I can't remember playing a game in those conditions were the wind had such an influential effect for both sides and also added to that a very heavy pitch as well which incidentally held up quite well. We were very concerned before the game as the training area we were warming up on cut up in a matter of minutes but the pitch held up and both sides tried to play some decent stuff.
"Obviously with the wind there has been a lot of long balls at times but both sides, when they could, tried to get the ball down and knock it about a bit which was a testament to both sides.
"We made some changes and decided to go back to the normal side pretty much. We've had so many players out suspended, unavailable, ill and injured in the last two or three games if you count the Glosopp game.
"Tom Betteridge and Richard Butler have done very well defensively for us and there was no question to put them back in. Gareth Langford who has been absent die to a back injury, I spoke to him this morning, and it's been in the press that it's improved; he unexpectedly made himself available again. He had to come off with it near the end but he's done a really cracking job for us in there today and we really needed Gareth Langford in that sort of game today.
"Not just Gareth but all his team mates have battled hard today but he was a big factor and something we've been missing in the last few games. Also Liam Hebberd in the starting line-up for us after recovering from a virus and although it wasn't his type of game today we needed a bit more defensively. Liam has run himself into the ground and he gave us the signal and we made the change and put Royce Turville out there so I was pleased with the changes we made.
"Gareth sits in front of the back four and is a good marshal and partner for Carl Slater and looks to break things up and gets to the ball before it bounces and help things along. He can play a bit given a bit of time and the fact that he lasted eighty five minutes is an absolute credit to the guy. He's a bit stiff in the dressing room but hopefully he can get himself fit for Tuesday. I only wish we could have had Gareth and his colleagues who have been missing or playing below par due to injury or illness in last couple of games because rest assured we wouldn't have been beaten as easily as we did.
"I'd then be judged on a level playing field rather than some of the knee jerk idiotic comments that have been coming out recently. I'll admit with the all that's gone on in the last nine weeks personally like the death of my Dad, the deaths of a workmate and best friend and the birth of my son, I haven't had my focus in the last couple of games but that's not the reason for the results. Credit to the lads they've all got round me and I'm really pleased with the result today and it was an important one for us.
"I'm not bothered about the Vase, really not bothered. My focus is on St Andrews on Tuesday night and no further. Once we've finished that game and hopefully we can win, we'll then start to consider and worry about the Vase. It's not important to me the league is more important and we're still in there fighting.
"I've just said to the lads in the dressing room when we do get to the Vase game we're in the opposite situation. We'll be the underdogs, we're the ones not expected to win. After Tuesday's game we can then focus on the Vase. If we start looking at that we could end up slipping up on Tuesday. It's an important three points up for grabs on Tuesday and we can't afford to lose it and after the last home game we need to win it.
"We have one or two concerns with injuries for Tuesday. Liam had to come off with a tight back and Gareth has had to come off as well also with a tight back. We had to make a late change with Rob Spencer. He went on a treadmill at the gym last night to loosen up and felt a hamstring but didn't advise me of that until he got here today so we made a late change with Rob coming out of the side. We don't think he'll be fit to start the game but could give us fifteen minutes in either of his positions if need be.
"There were one or two players who weren't available today who may be on Tuesday. Andy Woodall who recently signed missed out on the squad and Danny Holmes may be available for a place on the bench so we'll have to see."
