Midland Football Alliance
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Tuesday, 21st February 2012, 7.45pm
Gresley leave It Late!
Gresley left it very late to get something from this game in which they'd hoped to bounce back after a poor Vase display against St Ives Town on Saturday.
Despite dominating the first half Gresley only managed to convert one of numerous chances and were stunned as their visitors took firm control of the second half scoring three times only to concede two goals in the final 5 minutes.
Gresley manager Gary Norton was forced into several changes from Saturday, with Mickey Lyons and Marc Strzyzewski both succumbing to injuries collected at St Ives, and midfielder Danny Holmes going over on ankle during a coaching session earlier in the day. Tom Betteridge was also unavailable as he is still recovering from an ankle injury.
The homeside looked a little jittery to begin with and were almost caught out when Kirby took a quick free kick that Rob Spencer managed to clear.
Marc Goodfellow burst through the middle but was brought down in the 'D' by Richard Darlison. Jordi Gough blasted the free kick over the bar.
Almost immediately Goodfellow was hacked down again this time by Ben Law who received a deserved yellow card for his trouble. This time James Jepson took the free kick but it went straight at Kirby keeper Tom Holyoak.
Gresley took the lead on 26 minutes with a superb strike from Dean Oliver. Goodfellow picked the striker out and he took his chance with an unstoppable thunderbolt of a shot that left Holyoak standing motionless on his line as the ball flew past him.
The home side were turning the screw with Oliver and Goodfellow both going close. Goodfellow then picked out Royce Turville whose header was cleared off the line and Spencer's shot from the rebound blocked.
There was somewhat of a reversal in the second half as Kirby took control with Gresley finding it difficult to keep up with their visitors as the won most of the second balls and dominated the midfield.
There was no sign of the revival as Gresley forced two earlier corners one of which produced a chance for Goodfellow who hit a low shot that the keeper did well to hold low at his near post.
Kirby then started to stretch Gresley with some good passing and solid tackling which saw them level on 60 minutes. Jepson was caught in possession in midfield and the ball was quickly sent forward and Michael Nottingham and Lee Barrow were unable to prevent Stuart Verrall from getting in between them to poke the ball past Gresley keeper Gary Hateley.
The visitors took the lead in a fast flowing move down the right flank which ended with a superb cross to Sam Taylor who swept the final ball home from six yards.
Gresley went close to levelling when Oliver hit a shot that was parried by Holyoak but there was no-one to take advantage of the loose ball.
Karl Wilson added a third for his side when he was allowed far too much time to get his shot off from just inside the area.
Time was quickly running out for Gresley as they pressed forward looking to try and get back in the game. They were living dangerously at times playing just two at the back after throwing everything at trying to equalise with Norton bringing on substitutes Kyle Bryant, Matt Gardner and Richard Hanslow up front replacing Jepson, Turville and Barrow.
With a minute of normal time remaining Gresley were awarded a free kick on the right and Goodfellow curled a terrific shot into the far top corner which beat Holyoak despite the keeper getting a hand to the ball.
Once more Gresley were almost caught when a fast break down the right saw a shot blocked at the near post by Hateley and the rebound being smashed into the side netting.
The most unlikely ending came in time added on when Hanslow managed to get the ball into the net keeping his side's unbeaten league run intact for one more game.
Manager's View
"It's difficult to say whether that was one point gained or two points lost. Given the circumstances we were in with a minute left on the clock, three-one down and totally devoid of ideas.
"We just did not get going in the second half. It was a great response in the first half. We got the ball down and passed it about well and the front men were unplayable. It was a cracking goal from Dean Oliver and we had several other opportunities.
"We asked for more of the same in the second half, keep things going because we hadn't done anything yet with a slender lead and we didn't get started. We were going long; we were smashing it and missing midfield. The front lads who'd been unplayable in the first half got very little service and then we defended abysmally for the goals which is unlike us. There were a couple of players in the back four who have been fantastic this season have had a couple of poor games on the trot now.
"Michael Nottingham, who has been magnificent, absolutely magnificent since he joined us, he really has been outstanding to the point where his performances go unnoticed didn't have a too bad a game on Saturday but he wasn't at his best tonight and you could see that. He'll bounce back from that as will Jamie. Both of them have been fantastic, brilliant for us this season.
"It wasn't just them in the second half who died or went missing. So having been three-one down with a minute to go I guess we're relieved to get a point and have not lost at home but it's definitely two points lost. We perhaps should have put one or two more chances away in the first half. We've left them a lifeline and in fairness to them Kirby have played fantastically well. I can't remember whether it was their second or third goal but what a goal it was. Even though it had put us two or three one down I found myself applauding it. It was a fantastic move down the right.
"We've done well to battle back and you have to hand it to the lads. A lot of teams would maybe have given up. We had a little bit of fortune with Marc Goodfellow's free kick. I think our last goal may have been an own goal but Richard Hanslow is trying to claim it as you would if you were a front player and close to it so maybe we've had a little bit of luck but we got out of gaol and got a point.
"We knew we'd pick injuries up and on Saturday Mickey Lyons picked a dead leg up. Marc Strzyzewski has also picked a bit of a thigh problem up in the St Ives game, Tom Betteridge is still not quite right and to add a little insult to injury if you like Danny Holmes who is an academy coach at Derby County went over on his ankle this morning which ruled him out tonight. We missed Danny today. Obviously his suspension doesn't kick in for another week or so and we very much needed him out there especially in the second half because he's the sort of guy who will get on the ball and start pinging passes and also be that physical presence that maybe we lacked in that second half.
"So yes, we've had to make changes and dig deep into the squad. We've called a couple of the players back who have been getting games out on loan. Kyle Bryant had a game for Holbrook on Saturday and played very, very well. Matt Hill, who has also been getting games at Holbrook, didn't get on tonight but is more than able cover but we decided to give Lee Barrow an opportunity. We had to dig deep but that's why we've got the squad we have."
