East Midlands Counties League
The Wilkinson Bowl, Spondon
Saturday, 12th February 2011, 3.00pm
Points Shared At Borrowash
Billed as the top game in the East Midlands Counties League it unfortunately failed to live up to its billing as neither side carved out many clear cut chances with both defences coming out on top.
Gresley manager Gary Norton made several changes to the side that squeezed past Ibstock Utd last week with Adam Betteridge and Richard Butler having to be content with a place on the bench. Rob Spencer replaced Liam Hebberd who has now joined Bardon Hill and Gareth Langford along with Barry Woolley returned after recovering from injury. Jordi Gough returned to his left back slot.
On a very heavy pitch which was never going to be conducive to free flowing passing football it was the home side who threatened first when former Moatman Paolo Piliero's shot had to be turned over the bar by Gresley keeper Gary Hateley after just two minutes.
Langford had the visitors' first attempt on goal on 16 minutes but his effort was blocked by the legs of Victoria's keeper Danny Tollerfield. Spencer was next to try his luck but his shot sailed over the bar.
The best chance of the half came on 25 minutes. A good cross from another former Moatman Sean Gummer found Piliero in acres of space but his header easily cleared the bar.
Borrowash had another chance to take the lead early in the second half when Gummer floated over an inviting cross which big defender Andy Mottershead failed to find the target and embarrassingly headed well wide when very well placed.
The home side were having a good spell and Jamie Pawley brought out a superb save from Hateley as he looked dead certain to score with his shot from in the area.
With the ball being soaked up by both defences it needed a spark from someone to set the game into life. Both sides made changes deep into the second half but still the breakthrough failed to arrive.
One final half chance fell to Gresley with ten minutes remaining. A ball was laid on for Carl Slater who hit a tremendous strike but it took a deflection and away for a corner.
The referee brought to an end a game that really didn't benefit either side but Norton is probably the happier of the two managers gaining a point away from home against one of the title contenders even though his side didn't play particularly well.
Manager's View
"I wanted to come and win this game and Mark Wilson also wanted to win it and you could see that by how the two sides went at it. But, in the end it was a hard earned point for us. For the last five minutes or so Borrowash slowed things done a little bit probably thinking we'll settle for a point because Gresley have to rely on us to drop points.
"Obviously we wanted to go for the win but we couldn't quite find the breakthrough. In a very, very tight game I think there was a big chance for us in the first half and Danny Tollerfield made a fantastic save and Gary Hateley has done the same making a big save in the second half and they were probably the two clear-cut chances both teams have had.
"There was a lot of huffing and puffing and I though both sides defended fairly well. Borrowash caused us problems in the first half and we had to change our shape and I'm kicking myself for waiting too long to change it. I'm never one who wants to change the shape, I want other sides to worry about us but it became evident that on a glue-pot of a pitch we weren't quite getting the ball down and to the strikers. Jamie Pawley was causing us problems dropping in off their front men a 4-4-3 in the first half so we had to change our shape and that meant David Blenkinsopp dropping in off Royce Turville and in the second half we brought Mickey Lyons on in the second half and after that it became a very even game.
"Unfortunately, it was a heavy pitch and we'd recently had a lot of rain so it meant we couldn't get the ball down and move it as we would like. But, having said that, even with the difficult pitch Borrowash played some lovely football as well given the difficult conditions and overall it was an entertaining nil-nil draw and perhaps you don't hear that said very often.
"I was trying to cast my mind back to our last nil-nil game because we don't have them very often. I think for little periods in the second half that we lacked belief that we could go on and get the goal. We did very well and we worked hard. The annoying and frustrating thing for me was there were too many times when we didn't do the basic things which were to clear our lines with height and distance. Borrowash do the basic things very well and you can see how they've had so many clean sheets and don't concede too many goals because they're well drilled.
"It's one of the things that frustrate me. We have, particularly some of the younger lads who are not consistent in doing the basics well and it puts us under pressure.
"I consider it a decent point for us but obviously I can here with on taking three in mind. Nothing is won at this stage but we are relying on both Heanor and Borrowash to slip up in the remaining games.
"We've been trying to sign a defender as cover with the injury concerns we have with Barry Woolley. But having said that Barry has come through and played very well today. Jamie Barrett has also done well and we've got Richard Butler who can play in there as well and Gareth Langford who pleased us by getting ninety minutes in today."
