Evo-Stik NPL Division One South
Ashby Avenue, Lincoln
Saturday, 13th October 2012, 3.00pm
Nightmare On Ashby Avenue
Gresley's long trip to Lincolnshire ended in a nightmare performance as the shipped in five goals against a side who had not won at home this season before today and despite a brace from Marc Goodfellow there was nothing to cheer the travelling faithful.
Joint managers Gary Norton and Martin Rowe had tried to bolster the Gresley squad as injury and unavailability bit deep into their squad and had managed to bring in former Moatman Matt Millns and also reserve team player Ben Minshall.
Dan Douglas (groin), Marc Strzyzewski (ankle), Gareth Langford (groin), Royce Turville (knee), Jordi Gough (suspended), Kyle Bryant (hols), Adam Betteridge (hols), Craig Attwood (personal reasons) were all missing with Richard Hanslow (shin splints) making up the substitutes.
Gresley were caught cold as United took an early lead when Terry Fleming was allowed to cut in from the right before slamming a low shot across keeper Gary Hateley and into the far bottom corner.
Michael Nottingham went close to levelling things but put his header from James Jepson's corner over the bar. Minutes later Goodfellow picked out Dean Oliver who fired a low shot that was dealt with by United's keeper Phil McGinn. Jepson then brought a fine save out of McGann.
United doubled their advantage on 22 minutes. A corner from the right was poorly dealt with by the Gresley defence and Jordan Hempstall's looping header found the back of the net.
Gresley pulled a goal back just after the half-hour mark when Nottingham threaded a ball through to Goodfellow who beat the keeper with a low shot.
However, on the stroke of halftime United regained their two goal advantage when substitute Ben Garrick looking a couple of yards offside ran onto a loose ball and after almost making a hash of things taking the ball wide, managed to get a shot into the far corner with the Gresley defenders standing still hoping for an upraised flag from the assistant referee which didn't happen.
Gresley's afternoon was made worse within a couple of minutes of the second half and it was more awful defending that handed the home side the goal. Dilly dallying on the left instead of clearing the ball, the defenders were caught out and Liam Bull allowed to run forward before smashing the ball home.
At the other end a shot was blocked and Goodfellow's effort from the rebound was well dealt with by the keeper.
United were still causing problems for the Gresley back line and substitute Chris Funnell managed to get round the back but his shot was well blocked at his near post by Hateley. However, seven minutes later some more poor defending saw the ball end up at the feet of Scott Coupland who had all the goal to aim at from the edge of the area and he made no mistake firing past Hateley for United's fifth goal.
Jepson tested McGann with a free kick from 20 yards but he was up to the task palming the shot away but as Rob Spencer raced in to try and capitalise on the loose ball and kicked the underside of a boot leaving him writhing in agony with at the very least severe bruising and Gresley injury list lengthened.
Spencer was replaced by Lavell White who should have given a penalty when he charged into the area only to be brought down from behind. Unbelievably, the referee Mr Hollidge gave a free kick outside the area when it was clear White was two or three feet inside. Goodfellow took the free kick quickly and found Phil Massingham whose shot hit the base of the post.
United could or maybe should have added another goal when Funnell was allowed to run almost unchallenged from just inside his own half fifty yards down the right but he fired over from a very good position.
Gresley chalked off another goal in injury time when Goodfellow hit a shot from 20 yards that took a deflection as it flew into the net to be greeted in almost total silence as the Gresley supporters had began to make the way out of the ground to face a long miserable journey home after seeing their side well beaten.
Manager's View
"I think that performance was probably worse than last season's game against Ellesmere. Where did that come from as a performance? The lads played really well the other night against Belper. They were really solid and played some cracking football but all over the park today we just didn't get going.
"I know we've got a few out through injury, suspension and availability but that's absolutely no excuse. We put out a strong starting eleven but from start to finish we were second best all over the park and I must apologise for that to those who have travelled.
"It's been a long time since I felt like I do now after a game and it was probably this time last year after Ellesmere!
"We've got to have a long look at ourselves after that sort of performance. Before today we hadn't done too bad in the league on the road but we looked like the side who were bottom of the league this afternoon and it's just not acceptable or good enough and we won't be standing for many more like that!
"Unfortunately, our injury list got worse today. We signed Matt Millns this morning and we had no choice but to play him. To say he was a bit rusty was an understatement to be honest but he wasn't on his own. There were players out there who have been putting good shifts in recently who weren't at it today.
"We were sloppy in possession, no tempo to the game and everything they've hit has gone in. Gary Hateley hasn't really made a save today and they've been ruthless and scored some cracking goals from their point of view. But from our point of view four of the goals were due to comical defending and you'd struggle to see that sort of defending on a pitch on a Sunday.
"We've got to send Rob Spencer for an x-ray. We fear the worse as he may have broken a bone in his foot so we'll have to we'll have to have a look at that one.
"At three-one we were tempted to throw Richard Hanslow on but as soon as we went four-one we told him to sit down to rest his shin splints. He probably only had twenty or thirty minutes in him anyway so we didn't see any point in aggravating that.
"Dean Oliver felt his groin at halftime and seemed to tighten a bit in the second half and again we had no option but to take him off. You could see late in the game that Phil Massingham was struggling for fitness as he's only just got back in the side. So, add that to the guy's we've already got out through injury. It's mounting, it's a concern and that's why we wanted a big squad.
"In fairness to Martin Rowe, I was niggling at him a little bit about too many players but we need every single one of them at the moment. We are going to have a bit of a body count on the way home and see what sort of squad we can put out for Tuesday and maybe add to it as well as we are talking to a couple of players.
"Injuries apart, let's not use that as an excuse today. We were well beaten today all over the park and we've got to address that and address the mentality of raising the game for every single game in this league. We've got to be at it otherwise we are going to be punished.
"I said on Tuesday night when me and Martin were chatting afterwards that we've got to be careful on Saturday. If we go there with the wrong attitude something will happen. Obliviously Lincoln got a win on Tuesday night which would raise their confidence and that win today will be a massive shot in the arm and I expect them to rise up the league on that performance."
