Friendly
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Thursday, 30th December 2010, 7.30pm
Friendly Win For Gresley
Gresley and Stapenhill both managed to blow some of their cobwebs away in a competitive friendly game held at the Moat Ground.
Although the score was irrelevant for both sides it was full credit to both teams that they played the game at a good tempo on a tricky surface.
The home side took a very early lead that rocked the Swans back on their heels when Jamie Barrett smashed Brian Woodall's corner from the right into the back of the net after just two minutes.
If the hardy supporters who'd ventured out on a damp evening thought the flood gates would open they were to be very surprised as the Swan's hit back and put the Gresley defence under pressure with former Moatman Jon Jenkinson firing a shot just wide from 12 yards.
The action then turned to the other end with David Blenkinsopp slipping the ball fractionally wide of the far post and Adam Betteridge hitting a shot from the left straight at Swans keeper Wayne Smith.
Just after the half hour Stapenhill deservedly levelled. A good move down the right saw Kyle Bryant get the better of his marker and slip a superb low cross into the box where Jenkinson was waiting to side foot the ball past Gresley keeper Gary Hateley.
Minutes later Blenkinsopp was again unlucky as he ran on to Danny Holmes' pass but his shot fizzed past the far post with Smith beaten.
Stapenhill hit back almost immediately and if Acer Sipits hadn't miss kicked his shot in front of goal from Jenkinson's cross Gresley would have been in trouble.
In this end to end period just before the break Blenkinsopp turned and clipped the ball over the head of Smith but his effort landed on the roof of the net.
Jenkinson then tested Hateley with a shot that needed a touch to see it over the bar. However, from the resultant flag kick Stapenhill took the lead. Bryant played a short corner to Ben Kelly-Wally who launched a cross into the box for two of his team-mates bit the ball evaded both and sailed in to the far top corner of the net.
Gresley made two changes at half time with Mickey Lyons replacing Jordi Gough and Darren Keeling replacing Gary Hateley.
Stapenhill were continuing to apply pressure to Gresley's defence and their persistence soon paid dividends. On 60 minutes the lively Bryant made a superb run through the heart of Gresley's backline before hitting a tremendous shot past Keeling and into the roof of the net.
Gresley reduced the deficit within three minutes with Woodall smashing Holmes's free kick past Smith and on 70 minutes they were level when Lyons fed the ball through to Blenkinsopp who coolly chipped the keeper.
To the surprise of the supporters manager Gary Norton brought Gary Hateley back onto the pitch but not in his usual goalkeeping position but as centre forward and it almost ended in a fairy tale fashion. Woodall sent in an inviting cross into the box that Hateley, diving full length, headed powerfully goalwards but unfortunately straight into the arms of the grateful Smith.
With Stapenhill tiring Gresley took advantage and scored what was the winner when Liam Hebberd's hard work down the right ended with him chipping the ball into the area and Woodall was on hand to power his header into the net.
Gresley almost added another when Hateley laid the ball back for Lyons who slammed a shot that took a wicked deflection and brought out a good save from Smith to deny the midfielder a goal.
Manager's View
"It was essential to get a game on for the players. There have been one or two comments about having a friendly but I view it as a different sort of training. I can understand peoples' views especially with the number of games coming up but we've trained three times in six or seven weeks and we've had one game in that time as well and it's been very, very difficult for us.
"So, from our point of view we were desperate for some pitch action because we can only do so much running on treadmills at gyms and things like that. We have managed to a couple of sessions in at Moor Farm's indoor facility at Derby and we got a session in at the Soccer Dome opposite Pride Park. They are small pitches and not ideal. To be out on grass was good and I hope we haven't done too much damage to the pitch.
"Both us and Stapenhill were desperate for some pitch action and it showed. We were very rusty for chunks of that game and some lads really benefitted from having that eighty five minutes or so.
"It was apt that we were playing Stapenhill as one of my best friends Phil Lonegan passed away yesterday in tragic circumstances. Phil played a lot of games for Stapenhill and I played many of those with him and he also had a little spell as manager for them as well.
"Phil had a lot of friends at both Stapenhill football club and Gresley football club. I personally didn't feel like coming tonight but it's football and that was Phil's life. I was great to get the game on and it was important to have a minute's silence although it was only a friendly. His partner was here tonight and watched the first half. I'm big friends with Mickey and Danny Lonegan who were both Gresley players and our condolences go out to all of Phil's family. It's a really sad time for everybody.
"I've always said that the result wasn't important but we came back from three-one down, We were sloppy defensively. We missed Barry Woolley tonight who had a family function and we also had several players missing from the squad who we'd have liked to have got some pitch time. Three are ill, Rob Spencer, Richard Butler and Chris Bate two of who went down today.
"Royce Turville has gone away for a few days and gets back on Sunday and he was one who we really wanted to get some pitch time.
"Tom Land has come off with a bit of an ankle problem. Dave Blenkinsopp is suffering from a groin problem and we tried to get him off but he said he was okay but we did take him off on seventy minutes or so.
"I was great to get out there again and it showed we needed it. I didn't want to go into the Bardon game without getting anything in so I was pleased that Stapenhill accepted the offer and came over.
"I've had a word with lads - I'm looking forward to the second half of the season. We're in a good position and we have the big Vase game coming up against St Neots. Anything can happen in the Vase despite them being favourites and we have the much awaited to trip to Glossop on Wednesday and I'm really looking forward to that one!
"Stapenhill played Glossop in the last round of the Derbyshire Senior Cup and by all accounts they are a good side and have a good pitch so hopefully we'll get that game on. We'll use it to give some players pitch time who need it depending on how we get on, on Monday. If the game doesn't go ahead on Monday they we'll look at the Glosopp game a bit differently. We may even have another look at our new striker who did quite well. I'm just glad that the effort he had didn't go in or we wouldn't have heard the last of it from Gary Hatley. It was a fantastic run but it seemed odd to see him running around out there with no gloves on. It was an interesting experiment, almost as interesting as Stapenhill's forward line with Karl Payne and Tony Hemmings up front!
"It was an enjoyable evening and I just hope Stapenhill haven't picked any injuries up. Apart from Tom Land's ankle we are clear I think."
