Evo-Stik NPL Division One South
The Walks, Tennyson Road, Kings Lynn
Tuesday, 23rd October 2012, 7.45pm
Spencer Double Earn Gresley A Share Of The Points
Those hardy souls who made the long midweek trip to Norfolk on a damp and dismal night witnessed a performance from Gresley which many think was the best so far since the reformed club began.
With several players unavailable the aim of the night could have been one of damage limitation against a side who are regarded as one of the favourites to win the league, but two goals from Rob Spencer saw Gresley dominate the game for long periods until two second half goals pegged them back and gave the home side an undeserved share of the spoils.
In front of a good crowd, who had been largely kept silent until the last twenty minutes or so, and in some of the best facilities seen at Gresley's level or indeed a few leagues higher, Gresley started quickly with Phil Massingham being sent through but firing into the side netting.
Jamie Thurlbourne did fire wide early on for the Linnets but it was the visitors who were creating the chances. A free kick from James Jepson brought out the first of several good saves from keeper Danny Gay who managed to get down quickly to his left to push the effort away.
Richard Hanslow dribbled into the area but his shot flashed across the face of the goal and just wide of the far post. Hanslow went closer minutes later when he ran onto a superb ball chipped over the defence by Jepson but this time the shot cannoned back off the post.
The Linnets slowly got back into the game after twenty minutes or so but Jason Turner scuffed his shot making it a comfortable save for Gresley keeper Gary Hateley. Jordan Yong then hit Thurlbourne's free kick straight at Hateley.
Gresley were again causing problems at the other end when Hateley took a free kick from his own half which was headed down into the area by Michael Nottingham to Massingham who put his shot wide of the near post.
A good move from the home side saw their big striker Russell Dunkley lay the ball back for Dan Quigley who fired wide on the turn.
The visitors went close again when Nottingham had his header from Jepson's corner cleared off the line and Spencer firing the rebound over the bar.
Gresley took the lead on 37 minutes when Massingham hit a shot that was blocked but this time Spencer made no mistake smashing the rebound past Gay. They closed the first half clearly on top with both Jepson and Massingham going close before the interval.
The second half got off to the best start possible for the visitors as they extended their lead within a couple of minutes of the re-start. A cleverly worked corner from the left saw Jepson put a low ball back to Spencer who was waiting on the edge of the area and he drilled a superb low drive which left Guy helpless.
It was no more than Gresley deserved but as was to be expected Town began to put on pressure as they saw all the points rapidly fading away. And, with league pace setters Coalville also playing tonight, the home side needed to get something from the game and they went close on 50 minutes but Gresley defender Sam Woods, making his debut, was on hand to clear Thurlbourne's powerful header off the line.
Gresley were not to be intimidated by this spell of home pressure however and could easily have scored twice more with Hanslow hitting a shot that drifted fractionally wide and Massingham, who had been set up perfectly by Spencer, saw his shot on the turn well parried away by Guy at his near post.
It was no exaggeration to say that Gresley could quite easily have won this game by four or five goals as they continued to make good chances. Jamie Barrett, who looked comfortable playing in midfield, fired a long-range shot that flew over the bar and Hanslow put a header wide from Jepson's free kick.
Town got a life-line on 72 minutes to give them a lift and a sniff of at least gaining a share of the points when Dunkley rose superbly to head Stephen Spriggs's corner from the right powerfully into the net.
Was that the signal for an onslaught? No, to be honest it didn't come. Despite Town having more of the possession Gresley were working hard to prevent them from getting any clear chances. Indeed, Gresley could have scored again when Mickey Lyons's shot was cleared off the line with neither Massingham nor Hanslow being able to get that vital touch in front of goal. Hanslow went close again moments later hitting a shot on the turn just over the bar.
Town drew level on 83 minutes when substitute Danny Beaumont hit a free kick towards the far post which just cleared the head of Nottingham before ending up in the net after clipping the inside of the woodwork.
Gresley didn't let their heads drop and to their credit continued to press forward. Lyons, working hard, did well to rob the ball off Ross Watson and after making it to the bye-line cut the ball back for Hanslow who hit a first time shot across the goal where Massingham was waiting but he was inches from connecting at the far post.
Hanslow thought he'd won the game for the visitors late on when he raced onto the ball before smashing home only to have been harshly adjudged offside.
Gresley keeper Hateley, who had been largely unemployed for the whole game, needed all his experience to block Dunkley's close-range shot at his near post. Watson then had a chance to steal all three points but blazed his shot well over from a good position.
Manager's View
Martin Rowe
"I'm absolutely gutted. The players are gutted and they've come here and played really well again. It was our best performance over ninety minutes.
"Everybody's put a shift in and worked and we've created seven good chances and we haven't put them away. We've got to be more ruthless, we're too nice at times and when we have that bit of pressure we've got to put the ball in the back of the net because that's what cost us tonight.
"They've had a bit of luck with their two goals but Gary Hateley has hardly had to make a save and we've worked their keeper really hard tonight.
"It's so disappointing and so frustrating. Saturday was disappointing when we lost that game but tonight, if we could play like that every week and why we don't play like that every week - God knows.
"We've had spells this season when we've had good games and we've had bad games but I think now we're starting to have more good games than bad games!
"Sam Woods who was making his debut was solid tonight. He was highly recommended to us and we've been waiting to try and get him in and what a place to come here! He coped well with the pressure and did well.
"I thought Jamie Barrett did well playing in the centre of midfield, he's pulled Mickey Lyons and James Jepson in and told him what he wanted and did really well.
"Overhaul Rob Spencer has been immense tonight. I've never known anyone run has hard as him, he's getting tackles in, he's getting shots in on goal and he could have won it for us at the end but his legs had gone!
"We thought he'd be out for a few weeks with a foot injury but Gareth Langford gave him some potions which seemed to have worked and definitely done the trick and Rob's back which is great news for us.
"We'd hoped for a new signing for tonight as we were chasing a player. He told me he was coming during the week and over the weekend and on Sunday night he was definitely coming. Come Monday he's changed his mind which was very disappointing because that player would have changed the whole team but it's not to be and we have to move on.
"On the injury front, Gareth Langford would have been available for tonight but he had to look after his two children as his wife was out. Royce Turville may be back in the next three weeks but he will need to get some games somewhere."
