FA Cup Preliminary Round
Lincoln Road, Stamford, Lincolnshire
Saturday, 25th August 2012, 3.00pm
Gresley Too Strong For Blackstones
Gresley proved too strong for their hosts Blackstones with goals from Michael Nottingham, Rob Spencer and Dean Oliver ensuring the Moatmen win through to the next round of the FA Cup where they'll meet Thurnby Nirvana at Dakyn Road on 8th September.
With a match on Monday in mind manager Gary Norton made several changes to the side which beat Carlton in midweek with Tom Gutteridge replacing Gary Hateley who was away on work commitments, Matt Roome brought in at right back, Craig Attwood taking the place of Mickey Lyons who is on holiday and Richard Hanslow partnering Dean Oliver up front.
With thunder and lightning circling the ground Gresley made a bright start with Oliver curling a low shot inches wide of the far post. He then chipped a delightful ball over a defender to Lavell White who drove his shot into the side netting.
Gresley continued to apply the pressure and on 13 minutes a free kick from James Jepson almost caught the Blackstones keeper Lee Crockett off guard but he managed to recover to push the low shot away for a corner.
However, 5 minutes later the goal that looked certain to come arrived. A corner from the right by Jepson was met by Nottingham who headed the ball into the net.
Blacktones hit back with the useful Michael Nelson firing a shot at Gutteridge but Gresley extended their advantage on 23 minutes when Oliver provided the perfect cross from the right for Spencer to head home.
As Gresley seemed to sit back on their lead, the home side narrowed the gap on 33 minutes courtesy of a soft penalty. Nelson had run into the area but Jordi Gough clipped the striker and the referee Mr Tonks pointed to the spot. Nelson took the kick himself and despite Gutteridge choosing the right way and getting a hand to the ball couldn't keep the effort out.
That goal seemed to give Blackstones a second wind and they almost levelled on 42 minutes when Nelson got the better of Nottingham but Gutteridge did well to block the shot.
Home substitute Liam Buttery then provided a cross which was flicked on by the head of Sam Bettison but the curling header clipped the outside of Gutteridge's far post.
Again it was Gresley making the early running as the second half began with Hanslow firing a low shot wide of the far post.
Gresley scored the all important third goal just after the hour mark. Spencer made a run down the left before laying the ball on for Oliver who accepted the invitation curling a shot around the keeper and into the net.
Oliver was instrumental in the next Gresley chance as they threatened to add to their tally. His lovely pass sent White racing forward but the keeper did very well to push the final shot away.
With the time running out another good footballing move by the visitors as Gresley substitutes Kyle Bryant, Gareth Langford and Royce Turville all combined with Turville hitting a shot which was blocked.
All though Gresley had the game won they had a late scare when Gough had to clear Andrew Buckle's shot off the line.
Mickelover Sports' game at New Mills was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch so the game will now be played on Bank Holiday Monday meaning their visit to the Moat Ground will now have to be re-arranged.
Manager's View
"We got into a fairly comfortable position two goals up by the two headers and we were really pleased with the start. We really didn't know what to expect the quality of the opposition although we had down a little bit of work.
"There was then an innocuous challenge for a soft penalty. It was a bit harsh but if that had have happened anywhere else on the pitch it would be a foul. Their guy had come on the blind side and Jordi Gough went to swing a leg at it and caught the guy and it was a penalty. Although Tom Gutteridge got a decent hand to it he couldn't keep it out.
"Then the last fifteen minutes or so and the first five or ten in the second half was a bit bitty but either side of that period we controlled the game well. The third goal settled some nerves and after that there was only going to be one winner from that point.
"It's a great problem to have with so many players available with the depth and quality we have in the squad. We do have some players unavailable at the moment. Mickey Lyons is away for the Bank Holiday weekend, skipper Gary Hateley is away on work commitments so Tom came in for that and Mar Goodfellow is away on holiday.
"We decided to rest players today with Monday's match in mind but then during the game we heard that Mickelover's game today was called off so they will have to play on Monday meaning our game is off so that's backfired a bit.
"Ideally we'd have liked to have played on Monday with the players we've got at the moment. We've purposely have gone a bit top heavy with the squad at the moment at the start of the season so it is frustrating. We wanted to keep the momentum going. I imagine it would have been a good crowd as well with Mickloever being so close but we'll train a couple of times this week and get our minds set on the Evo-Stik league trip to Leek on Saturday. Whenever Mickleover come it will be a big gate and the best of luck to them in their cup game.
"We've gone another ninety minutes without conceding a goal from open play but we did ride our luck a little bit. There was a fantastic piece of defending from, I believe, Jordi Gough on the line. We did switch off a little bit there which was disappointing. Obviously we were looking to close the game out and if they'd have scored then it might have meant a nervy injury time.
"It's pleasing how we've started the season from a defensive point of view. Let's be realistic that's not going to last. As long as it does last then great but there are going to be times when we get sloppy and get punished defensively.
"The second half last Wednesday Carlton controlled the game and a combination of great defending and being a bit fortunate with regards to Carlton's finishing contributed to that clean sheet but we are pleased with how we've started the season."
