Derbyshire Senior Cup 3rd Round
Surrey Street, Glossop
Wednesday, 5th January 2011, 7.45pm
County Cup Exit For Gresley
A severely depleted Gresley squad made the long journey to face Derbyshire Senior Cup opponents Glossop North End at Surrey Street.
Manager Gary Norton was unable to call on eleven first team players through illness, injury and work commitments and had to include Barry Woolley and Chris Bate who are still recovering from illness and Richard Butler who is struggling with a calf injury. To make up his squad Norton drafted in several Youth and Reserve team players.
As was to be expected The Hillmen made most of the early play with Dave Morris firing over the Gresley bar after just two minutes. Further shots peppered visiting keeper Gary Hateley's goal but most of them wayward.
However, on 22 minutes Glossop opened the scoring when Darren Hamilton fired in a cross from the right that Morris slipped into the net at the near post.
The hosts almost added to their tally four minutes later but Woolley managed to head Jason Gorton's effort off the line.
More pressure from Glossop saw two corners in quick succession and it was from the second one that they added their second goal of the evening. Morris swung in the flag kick from the left and the ball was only cleared as far as Hamilton, who with his back to goal, hit a superb overhead kick that sailed into the far top corner leaving Hateley helpless.
The only chance on goal for Gresley came with three minutes remaining of the first half. A superbly threaded through ball from Mickey Lyons sent Royce Turville racing in on goal but with home keeper Joe Boyle rapidly advancing Turville slipped the ball the wrong side of the post.
Gresley came out for the second period in determined mood with Barry Woolley bringing out a tremendous save from Gorton as his powerful header looked destined for the back of the net.
Back came the homeside with Alex Elliott going close twice with his second effort, a well struck volley, the best that needed a fine save from Hateley to deny him.
On 68 minutes Gresley were undone by a fabulous footballing move. A cracking reverse pass sliced the visiting defence in two and Elliott made no mistake this time coolly slipping the ball past Hateley and into the far bottom corner.
Gresley should have got a consolation goal when a hand ball in the area by Gorton saw Chesterfield based referee Mr Pashley point to the spot. Turville chose to take the kick but Gorton guessed correctly and diving to his right pushed the shot away.
On 72 minutes Norton made an unusual change to his team with goalkeeper Darren Keeling replacing Hateley between the sticks and Hateley being given a forward's role to help the largely isolated Turville out.
Glossop were the width of the bar from adding another goal when Gorton hit a delicious volley from 25 yards that left Keeling rooted to the spot but clattered the woodwork and bouncing away.
Minutes later Woolley almost snatched a goal for Gresley but his header hit the side netting.
Norton had already given Youth Team players Alex Rowland, Callum McBride and Josh Pearson their first team debuts and now handed Reserve Team player Will Simpson his debut with a few minutes remaining of the game.
Although the result saw Gresley slip out of the County Cup those first teamers, reserve and youth team lads all deserve a big pat on the back for their efforts and for making such a long journey on a dismal, dank and cold evening to the very north of Derbyshire on a Wednesday evening!
Manager's View
"One of the positives to come out of tonight's match is that we have no further injuries. Richard Butler's calf is very tight, there is no pull, and he's done well to last tonight. If we'd have been in a position to take him off we would have done and how Barry Woolley has managed to last ninety minutes when we were expecting him to last sixty maximum after suffering from a chest infection that forced him off on Monday.
"We battled well especially in the second half. We got the penalty and we had a good chance with Barry Woolley's header that the keeper saved well. If it had dropped then it would have made the game interesting but to be fair Glossop were controlling the game for large parts as was expected with the amount of players we had out.
"We had three or four of our experienced players who if it had been a competitive game and we'd have had everyone available wouldn't have been on the pitch because of the condition they were in so I can't fault the lads for their effort.
"To come all this way to Manchester, I'm being ironic; an SK post code Stockport how's that in Derbyshire? - I jest of course - no I was proud of the lads especially the young lads. We've brought three youth team lads and one who's just gone into the reserves who got a good chunk of pitch time and have done really, really well and hopefully they'll be able to take that back to their respective teams when they next play.
"We should have some of the missing players back for Saturday. Some were missing due to work commitments. In hindsight when you have to travel sixty five miles for a County Cup game you'd expect it to be on a Saturday but we haven't got the benefit of hindsight. We were please to get it out of the way without picking any further injuries up and yes we should have some bodies back.
"We've got to check on the lads who have been ill. It will be touch and go if any of them will be fit enough for Saturday but we'll have a look. Some of the lads who've been recovering from viruses and have played tonight seem to have come through okay and even got ninety minutes in.
"I haven't thought too much about Saturday at all I've just been trying to get a side for tonight and to be honest I was thinking, for the first time in ten or eleven years at the club, of not fulfilling the fixture but I'm glad we did because it's got that one away and we haven't got to come here again. I wouldn't mind coming here again with a full side and giving them a bit of a better game. I feel a little aggrieved that they haven't seen the decent Gresley side that we usually are."
