East Midlands Counties League
The Recreation Ground, Radcliffe on Trent
Tuesday, 19th April 2011, 7.45pm
Gresley Go Top
Despite being down ten men for the remaining 30 minutes of the game Gresley gained three valuable points at The Recreation Ground that took them to the top of the East Midlands Counties League for at least twenty four hours.
Gresley manager Gary Norton made several changes to the starting line-up against St Andrews on Saturday. Defender Barry Woolley, who suffered a nasty head injury in the last game, was confirmed as suffering from concussion and was replaced by Gareth Langford at the heart of the defence. Jordi Gough returned to his usual left back slot with Richard Butler taking a space on the bench.
Danny Holmes returned to the midfield alongside Mickey Lyon with David Blenkinsopp having to be content with a place on the bench. The versatile Jamie Barrett filled in at right back allowing Tom Betteridge to play wide left in the slot vacated by the injured Rob Spencer.
Gresley came out for the first half in determined mood and were soon pinning their hosts back in their own half. However, somewhat against the run of play, Radcliffe should have taken the lead on 9 minutes when a mix up in defence saw the ball fall nicely for Josh Royce who was unlucky to see his shot clatter the base of the post and cleared by the Gresley defence.
The visitors responded immediately and were themselves denied by the woodwork after Tom Betteridge had made a superb run down the left before striking the post with his shot.
Gresley took deserved lead just moments later when Royce Turville got the better of a flat back four and lifted his shot over the keeper James Mountain only to see his effort come back off the far post. However, the hard working striker was rewarded by reacting quickly hammering home the rebound before keeper and defender could respond.
It was no more than Gresley deserved and indeed they had a few further before the first half drew to a close. Turville hit a cracking shot on the run that Mountain did well to hold on to, Brian Woodall having a free kick cleared off the line and then a goal bound shot deflected over the bar.
Olympic made the early running in the second period without putting a solid Gresley defence under any real pressure. However, a rash tackle by Danny Holmes that referee Dan Tracey viewed as violent conduct showing the midfielder a straight red card that meant Gresley had to play out the remaining thirty minutes or so with just ten men.
Gresley could have sat back and hope to see out the rest of the half defending their lead but to their credit they dug in and when the opportunity arose pressed forward looking to add to their lead.
As was expected Olympic started to have the better of the possession but it was Gresley who created a half chance when Turville hit a stinging volley that Mountain failed to hold but there was no-one following up to take the spilled ball.
Despite their possession Olympic had barely tested Gresley keeper Gary Hateley that was until 72 minutes when a shot from Grahame Epps was well pushed away.
Gresley began to cleverly run the clock down keeping possession and taking the ball into the corners.
With three minutes remaining of the ninety Turville, who had run himself into the ground, was replaced by David Blenkinsopp and as in previous games Blenkinsopp worked very hard not only up front but back in defence chasing and closing down the opposition as they threatened and his efforts were rewarded deep into time added on when he connected with Woodall's low cross into the box sliding the ball into the far bottom corner of the net.
Manager's View
"This was a huge three points. We knew it was going to be difficult because Radcliffe are a very good side, very organised, very disciplined and it's not an easy place to come.
"I thought we started the first half really well and I thought we were first to the majority of things. We had a lot of possession although bitty but we didn't have the cutting edge on a bobbly pitch and we only had the one goal to show for it.
"We rode our luck and their guy hit the post from one long ball through the middle that caught us knapping and then we went up the other end and hit the post ourselves but was alert to the rebound and managed to get our noses in front.
"But, to lose a man in that manner in the second half I'm not very happy to say the least. We've spoken to Danny Holmes and him more than anyone knows in that sort of situation how to conduct himself - he's a Conference winner. We haven't had that many red cards in the last two seasons but he's had two for us this season in two very tight and big games not to mention the odd one on a Sunday as well so I'm not very happy but his mates have dug him out. It was a fantastic defensive performance with just ten men so I couldn't be more proud.
"There must have been twenty seconds left on the clock because we'd run the clock down quite well to be honest. We got the ball into the corners and got free kicks and throw-ins and we were very disciplined and then we got the one near the end and I just wanted Brian Woodall to go into the corner but he twisted and turned and stuck the ball across to David Blenkinsopp and with literally the last kick of the game to make it two-nil.
"We've had a good chat with David tonight because he wasn't left out because he did something wrong on Saturday because his performance was bang on the money in terms of work rate and endeavour we need but we decided to go with a certain system tonight in which we feel Royce Turville fits better than David so we didn't go 4-4-2. Dave took it on the chin as did Richard Butler because we went with Jordi Gough to give us more pace in the back four and a little more attacking prowess coming forward.
"We tried to pick a side for the occasion tonight. We felt that when Mickey Lyons came on to a bobbly pitch on Saturday, normally one that gives us concern on that sort of surface, we felt he gave us a little more creativity and that's why we went with him tonight and you could argue that it worked because he set the first goal up with a ball over to Royce.
"Royce was magnificent. He's getting back to his fitness levels that he had before the little niggling injuries. His work rate, particularly when we were down to ten men, was phenomenal and we expected it to drop in the last fifteen minutes. We kept checking on him and for him to last until the final five or six minutes with the pace and application he did was credit to him.
"David Blenkinsopp also had a big impact when he went on, holding things up for us and then to nick a goal for us at the end.
"Barry Woolley was feeling okay on Saturday night but then on Sunday he felt a bit nauseous and was sick a few times on Monday so he went to the local Accident and Emergency and was diagnosed as having concussion which is unsurprising really. He should have gone to hospital on Saturday night to be checked out but the injury had calmed down and he felt okay. From my point of view I'm kicking myself a little bit for not insisting he went to hospital on Saturday night. Fingers crossed he should be okay and will be considered for Saturday. I'll check on him in the week to see if he'll be available for selection.
"At the moment we have Rob Spencer who has a bit of a heel problem which unfortunately kept him out tonight so we'll have to see how that is for Saturday and a chance of coming back. We have got options but we were only able to name four on the bench tonight but we still felt we had options in all positions if needed. The versatility we've got in the squad even when it's been stretched, is good and fingers crossed we don't pick any more injuries up.
"We wanted to get tonight's game out of the way before planning for the penultimate home game on Saturday hoping that we can build on last couple of performances away from home. On paper they were two tricky ties and we've managed to come through with two clean sheets and six points so I'm really pleased.
"It would be nice to have the game won before the eighty ninth minute just for my nerves. I spent more time on the bench in the second half looking down at my feet than at the game because I was so nervous. As I've said the lads have battled really well tonight and dug it out and perhaps last season in that situation we'd have rolled and gave it away.
"Also when you're defending a one goal lead you think of games like Gedling Miners when we gave a late goal away and also at Hinckley although I wasn't there, when we didn't take our chances and let a late goal in so I had my fingers crossed that we wouldn't suffer the same fate tonight but fortunately we managed to nag on."
