East Midlands Counties League
Primrose Hill, Blackwell
Tuesday, 1st February 2011, 7.45pm
Blenkinsopp Spot On For Gresley Win
Gresley striker David Blenkinsopp struck two penalties to help his side to all three points at Blackwell Miners Welfare. Further goals from Royce Turville, Aaron Dillon and an own goal from Ryan Williams gave the visitors a comfortable win and with it the vital three points to take the Moatmen back to the top of the table.
On a very heavy pitch Gresley were soon threatening the Blackwell goal with both Turville and Tom Betteridge firing wide in the early stages of the match.
Gresley took the lead on 16 minutes after a Blackwell defender was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area by referee Mr Rees. Blenkinsopp took responsibility for the spot kick and smashed the ball past Andrew Fretwell.
However, the home side were level just three minutes later in bizarre circumstances. Jamie Barrett sent what can only be described as a very strongly hit back pass to his keeper Gary Hateley who went to trap the ball but saw it go under his foot and into the goal. Although Hateley got back to try and clear the ball it had clearly crossed the line as indicated by the assistant referee.
The visitors went close to regaining the lead when some good work from Brian Woodall down the left ended with a fine pass to Blenkinsopp who cut inside before curling a superb effort around Fretwell who managed to get the faintest of touches sending the ball inches past the far post.
Woodall then went close when he hit a great shot with the outside of his left foot that brought out another fine save from Fretwell.
On the half hour mark Blackwell had their best chance of the game so far when a cross from the right from Steve Atkinson found a colleague in acres of space 12 yards out but he somehow managed to plant his free header wide.
Two minutes later, however, Blackwell went even closer. They were awarded a free kick 25 yards out which was taken by Williams who curled a superb kick over the wall and towards the top corner only to see his sublime effort come back off the upright with Hateley beaten.
Rob Spencer's low shot brought another good save from Fretwell but the visitors regained the lead when a low shot from Carl Slater was blocked but Turville reacting quickly hammered a shot past the keeper and into the net.
With just seconds remaining of the first half Gresley added a third goal when Woodall swung in a corner from the left and the hapless Williams got a glance on the ball and his header flew past Fretwell at the near post.
The second half started in dramatic fashion with the pitch being plunged into darkness with only a minute on the clock. Thankfully, after a stoppage of around 20 minutes or so both teams came out to continue where they'd left off.
Blenkinsopp again brought the best out of Fretwell as the keeper tipped another goal bound shot over for a corner. From the flag kick Jordi Gough saw his low volley go wide of the mark as Gresley threatened to add to their tally.
Blackwell were now rarely getting into the final third of the pitch as Gresley pressed forward on badly cutting up surface.
Blenkinsopp was once more supplied by Woodall but the final shot went wide but with ten minutes remaining the visitors did add goal number four. Substitute Adam Betteridge made a good run down the left and sent over the perfect cross that fellow substitute Dillon headed into the net at the far post for his first goal for his new club.
The game was wrapped up with another penalty after Rob Spencer had been upended in the area by Danny Claridge's clumsy tackle. Once more Blenkinsopp took responsibility and made no mistake blasting his shot past Fretwell.
Manager's View
"I'm pleased to be leaving here tonight with three points. I drill it into the lads week in and week out not to look at the league table and think we are going to get three points as experience will show from last season.
"They are a great set of people here at Blackwell and we haven't done their pitch any favours tonight. It's cut up a little bit. It was a bit hard at the start maybe it had a bit of frost in it still although the temperature has been good today.
"It became evident during the warm-up that the pitch was going to cut up and obviously that wasn't going to be conducive to our normal game which was mirrored in the team selection bringing David Blenkinsopp back in tonight and putting Mickey Lyons on the bench who did not get on because we wanted to try and be a little bit more direct if possible than to try and pass through teams.
"In the end I thought the score flattered us a little bit as I don't think Blackwell deserved to lose five-one but we'll take it all the same.
"Every time you lose a game you want to get back in action as soon as possible. If I could have played the game on Sunday morning I would have done. It's a bit like when you fall off a bicycle, you just want to get back on and prove you can do it.
"The lads were keen because they were very disappointed after Saturday to lose the game in the manner we did. Two contrasting style St Neots and ours in Saturday's game and but for only a couple of defensive errors we may have still been in the Vase or at least to have taken it to extra time. But it's done now, it's gone and in many ways it's a full stop; a line drawn under it. It's been a fantastic journey and we've really enjoyed it but we've now got, before tonight, seventeen cup finals I think I described it to the lads.
"We've got to get ourselves up for every game and make sure our work rate is as high as it can be. Sometimes it isn't good enough and the supporters have said so and I concur with that. We drill it into the lads that we must give our all in every game and in every situation and if we come off the pitch whatever the result having done that then there are not going to be too many complaints from the main body of supporters.
"I didn't see too much of the penalty decision because it was on the far side of the penalty area from where we were. I was surprised because I don't know what the referee gave for. There may have been a hand ball but from our point of view it was nice to get it and a little bit of luck because there have been circumstances when a few shouts have been turned down in recent games.
"However, we undid that soon after with one of the most comical own goals you're ever likely to see at any level of football. I saw Jamie Barrett lining up to pass it back and I thought 'make sure you get enough legs on it Jamie because of the pitch'. He hit it nice and firm and it obviously went through Gary Hateley and despite his best efforts the ball went over the line. It's just our luck at the moment in giving those sorts of goals away and if we could just cut that out of our game we'd be alright.
"In fairness to Gary he hasn't done much wrong tonight and not had too much to do. Fortunately it hasn't cost us and hopefully he'll learn from that. I've also told Jamie that any back passes make sure they are off target to give us a chance.
"I was about to give Brian Woodall both barrels from the dugout for a poor delivery from his corner because he's not missed the front man but fortunately for us he's sliced it into the net. Perhaps that's a bit of luck that we haven't had in recent games."
