Midland Football Alliance
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Monday, 26th December 2011, 3.00pm
Marc At The Double
Marc Goodfellow handed his side a late Christmas present by scoring a goal in each half to hand Gresley three points.
Gresley manager Gary Norton made three changes to the side that overcame Tividale last week with Gary Hateley returning to the goalkeeper's slot, Kyle Bryant replacing Rob Spencer away due to family commitments and Michael Nottingham coming back into the heart of the defence after recovering from a bout of illness.
First half chances should have seen Gresley with the points in the bag by the interval but they had to wait half an hour to get the ball in the net.
The homeside were soon putting Heather under pressure with Bryant firing wide and Royce Turville heading Goodfellow's cross from the left over the bar.
A succession of four corners saw Jamie Barrett head James Jepson's final flag kick over the bar after Nottingham had head the ball back into the area from the far side.
The first goal was as a result of a suberb footballing move down the left which ended with Dean Oliver expertly controlling the ball before picking out Goodfellow. His first shot was blocked but the rebound was rammed home.
Jepson then made a good run into the area bit the ball was smothered by a couple of defenders before he could shoot and then a driven cross from the left eluded the outstretched foot of Turville, in front of goal, by a matter of inches.
Heather came close to levelling early in the second half when Richard Lewis burst through the back line only to fine Hateley in fine form as he blocked the shot.
Oliver and Goodfellow then combined well with Goodfellow flashing a shot across goal but wide of the far post. Goodfellow again went close firing a low shot wide of the near post.
Again Hateley needed to react smartly when Heather substitute Chris Waldrum hit a low shot that was well blocked.
At the other end Oliver went close after rounding the keeper he could only fire into the side netting from a very acute angle.
The second goal came with just a minute of normal time remaining. A long clearance was brilliantly controlled by Goodfellow who then, seeing the keeper advancing, coolly lobbed the ball over Jamie Brassington's head to send the Moat Ground faithful home very satisfied with their three points.
Manager's View
"I wasn't expecting a win but I was expecting a hard fought performance and we'd hoped we could get another win but it was as hard a win has we've had to pull out all season.
"We had to work hard inside and I think chances were at a premium for both sides really and it was a ground out victory. At one-nil, although we looked fairly comfortable, but with the creativity, good players and the work rate they have in their side a lapse in concentration and a chance may have come for them and put the win in jeopardy.
"But, Marc Goodfellow chopped the one in at the end, a fantastic finish, and you could hear the pressure relieve itself around the Moat Ground. So it was a very hard earned three points but very welcome along with the clean sheet which we've been looking forward to in the league.
"Marc Goodfellow has really kicked on a gear in the last few weeks and we're really pleased about that and long may that continue. He's showed some quality today and I've said previously that we've since a significant increase in his work rate so not only is he good going forward but he's giving us that bit more coming backwards as well. He is very much a luxury player and when he's on the ball everyone is on the edge of their seats expecting something to happen but when things break down he's tracking back a lot more than he has done which is a big thing for us the way we play.
"Marc's got the goals today bit there were several other big performances out there as well. The two centre backs have done very well and it's good to have Michael Nottingham back. James Jepson has put in a massive shift today. He's been all over the pitch even in the ninety-second minute he's pressing, harrowing and causing mistakes and the front two were marshalled very, very well by a strong defence and it's been a long time since we've seen Dean Oliver and Royce Turville kept that quiet but they are a decent side and maybe on reflection two-nil is a little harsh but we'll take it all the same.
"Kyle Bryant did very, very well. He's been patient and been waiting for his opportunity. He had a very good shift against Alfreton in the Derbyshire Senior Cup a few weeks back and he would have started in the game on Friday if it had gone ahead. Rob Spencer was unavailable today as he's away with his family and he's suspended for the match on the second so Kyle's got the shirt and he's done very, very well.
"When Aaron Dillon came on he put pressure on Heather and had an impact and that's what's it's about at the moment. We've got a really good competitive squad and trying to keep everybody happy is a difficult challenge but I'd rather have that challenge than trying to pick a squad when you have a lot of injuries and suspensions.
"We've got a couple of suspensions that kick in now. Adam Betteridge has a three game ban starting now and Rob Spencer has the one for his sending off at Stratford so we are trying to get them out of the way and try to keep the lads fit as well so yes, everyone's chipping in."
