Evo-Stik NPL Division One South
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Tuesday, 9th October 2012, 7.45pm
Last Gasp Goodfellow Seals A Win
A goal deep in added time from Marc Goodfellow ensured that Gresley took all three points against local rivals Belper Town at the Moat Ground.
A draw looked on the cards before Goodfellow hit a swerving shot that was too hot for keeper Aaron Chapman who couldn't hold on to the ball and it ended up in the net.
Gresley were forced to make changes to the squad with Gareth Langford injured and other players absent through injury or other commitments meaning Aaron Dillon and Alex Britton being added to the bench.
The game got off to a good start with Goodfellow bringing out a good save from Chapman in the first minute.
On 25 minutes a spectacular attempt from Rob Spencer as his bicycle from inside the area was blocked as it headed into the net.
The first attempt from Belper came a minute later when Simon Harrison struck a shot wide of the far post. This was followed by Aaron Pride hitting a lofted shot into the box where Gresley keeper Gary Hateley got a vital touch to push the dangerous ball away for a corner.
Belper came closest to opening the scoring when Ashley Longstaff headed Harrison's corner from the left against the bar from close in. However, Gresley had a chance at the other end moments later when Goodfellow hit a shot that Chapman couldn't hold and Marc Strzyzewski pounced on the loose ball and managed to keep his footing as the keeper tried to recover the ball. The ball was sent back into the box but the home side couldn't capitalise.
Gresley made a chance at half time replacing Richard Hanslow with Phil Massingham. Just after the hour mark Gough almost gifted the visitors a goal with Harrison collecting the ball just outside the area. Harrison struck a shot from the right across Hateley and was unlucky to see the ball come off the base of the far post. Steve Warne's shot from the rebound was blocked before the final shot sailed over the bar.
A good move ended with Mickey Lyons picking out Massingham whose shot flashed across the face of Chapman's goal. It was then Belper's chance at the other end but Andrew Siribour despite being in a good position could only shoot well wide of the target. Then Goodfellow again tested Chapman with a low shot which the keeper held on to.
Gresley substitute Lavell White went close hitting a low shot, after some good work, just past the far post. It was then the turn of Colin Marrison to go close for the Nailers but he put his header from Harrison's corner over the bar.
Oliver then tried his luck from the left trying to curl the ball in at the far post but his effort went wide. Minutes later the striker hit another shot that flew past the far post.
With time almost up and Belper looking set for their sixth league draw in eight games Goodfellow struck to claim all three points for the Moatmen when he hit a volley on the turn which Chapman helped into the net with the winger claiming his eighth goal of the season.
Manager's View
Martin Rowe
"We did a bit of homework on the Belper keeper to be fair and he's prone to making mistakes. I kept saying to the lads that if you get a chance just have a go at goal and to be fair to Marc Goodfellow he was just waiting for that opening for the whole game. The keeper's made a mistake but we put the ball in the right area.
"Although they hit the bar and post we won one-none as it's about putting the ball in the net and that's why we won the game. Belper maybe did have had the better chances but they didn't put them away.
"I thought in the first half we were slightly the better side, played the better football and Belper tended to go a bit long all the time with their big players up front but we cope quite well with that. Second half both teams drifted in and out of the game and yes Belper may have created the better chances but at the end of the day we've won one-none.
"We are now starting to pick a few injuries up. We did try to get a couple of players in for tonight but unfortunately they fell through. We are looking to get a couple of new players for Saturday and will be speaking to them either tomorrow or Thursday but it shows you we need a big squad in this league.
"Gary Norton has always had a go at me for having a big squad but we've proved it tonight that we do need those players. We have Jordi Gough suspended for Saturday and Marc Strzyzewski is looking a bit doubtful but we're hoping to get Dan Douglas back. He would have been in the squad tonight but he's done a bit more gym work so he'll train on Thursday and hopefully he'll come through so we will have him back and we hope we can get the new players signed on for Saturday.
"Matt Roome will be available for Saturday. Matt struggles to make midweek games due to his university work. Unfortunately Craig Attwood has decided to have time off. He gets married next year and feels he needs to concentrate on his family life at the moment so we've wished him all the best and we'll just have to keep going."
