Evo-Stik NPL Division One South
Central Ground, Coles Lane, Sutton Coldfield
Saturday, 2nd March 2013, 3.00pm
Gresley Get The Vital Win
Goals from Royce Turville and Marc Goodfellow lifted the spirits of Gresley, supporters, management and players as they strolled to a comfortable win on the artificial surface at Coles Lane on a beautiful sunny early spring afternoon.
Turville broke the deadlock at the end of the first half and Marc Goodfellow sealed the win in the second with the visitors getting the added advantage of a clean sheet in the process.
Gresley made changes with Ryan Walker taking the right back slot which allowed Jamie Barrett to move into midfield in the absence of Danny Holmes. After making an impact as a substitute against Mickleover Jordan Nadat was given the striker's role alongside Turville.
Romulus made a rare chance early in the game as Luke Keen headed over Tyrone Amory's cross from the left but Gresley soon took control and it was only stubborn defending that prevented the visitors from opening their account.
A good move down the left saw Goodfellow pick out Nadat and then the ball was passed to Jordi Gough racing in and the defender's shot flew over the bar. Nadat then hit a low shot straight at Rom's keeper Lewis Exhall.
Gresley then forced a series of corners but just couldn't take advantage of all their pressure. Nadat then found Dean Rathbone with a cross from the right but again the shot flew over the bar.
Just as it seemed that the half would end all square Gresley were awarded a corner taken by Goodfellow. The ball was swung into the box but found its way back to Goodfellow who looped the ball into the box to where Turville was waiting to head the ball home from close in at the far post.
The goal was no more than Gresley deserved as they had dominated the first half but couldn't breech the Rom's defence. However, less than ten minutes into the second half they'd extended their lead.
Goodfellow made a good run down the right flank and curled a superb low shot that seemed to deceive the keeper as it flew into the goal in the far bottom corner of the net. Nadat tried his hand with a searing shot from 22 yards that fizzed past the upright.
Despite Romulus huffing and puffing they were finding it very difficult to test Gresley keeper Gary Hateley who hardly had a shot to save.
With seven minutes of the game remaining the home side had a golden chance to reduce the deficit but Liam Francis managed to blaze his shot almost out of the ground when well placed in the Gresley area.
New recruit Kristian Cox came on as a substitute alongside a returning former Moatman Gareth Langford but the game was as good as over with Romulus offering very little to worry the visitors. Indeed Langford could have added a third goal but his shot from the edge of the area which screamed the wrong side of the post with Exhall rooted to the spot.
Manager's View
"A win was long overdue. It was a difficult afternoon for us due to the fact we were coming into it low on confidence.
"I felt the way we went about the first half signalled our intent as we played some cracking stuff in possibly the best stuff we've played for a long time. We had a lot of chances and half chances but I didn't think we were going to get the breakthrough and then we created a beautiful goal. The way the guys played the ball and then stood it up at the back stick for Royce Turville to power home just gave us the lead at half time.
"We felt we deserve the lead at half time and we went on to win the game. Marc Goodfellow's goal was cracking. I was sat in the stand behind it and it seemed to bounce and turn like a cricket spin. Marc said he was just trying to put the ball in a good area and it crept inside the far post.
"The disappointing thing for me was that we didn't go on and really impose ourselves on the game. Romulus for all their endeavour posed little threat. I felt that once the second goal went in we could have controlled the game and retained the ball a lot better as we did in the first half as we gave it away far too easily. We've just been talking to the lads about it because against better sides we'll be punished. It was an important three points for us and a clean sheet the first of the year.
"We wanted to try something like we did when we played Jordi Gough further forward. We tried Ryan Walker at back. I'd wanted to take a look at him there since he covered when Jamie Barrett came off during the Kings Lynn game. Although he hadn't played there for a long, long time, for the twenty minutes in that game I saw something that made me want to have another look so today we thought we would.
"We'd been working with Jordi to get him to go forward earlier, quicker and a bit more often and it pleased me that both full backs went forward particularly in the first half and created a lot for us and gave us good options off the ball as well and they both had good games today.
"Ryan said he was willing to give full back a go. He'd not played there for a few years but it's certainly something we'll have a look at again.
"We were hoping to have new signing Kristian Cox in the squad for the game but there was a problem with his registration but we've sorted that out this week. We kept it under wraps because we didn't know how it was going to pan out.
"We are pleased we've got Gareth Langford back from Mickleover. Obviously with James Jepson going it's created an opportunity in that area although we've got enough bodies, Gareth left the club but it didn't work out at Mickleover. We said he'd be welcomed back so there can't be too much wrong in the dressing room if players want to come back!
"I don't think there will be much reaction on the Fans Forum tonight because we've won. Some of the recent defeats we've had created more posts than when we won the Alliance or the East Midlands Counties. When you don't do well in anything people are going to criticise and have their points of view and they can get quite heated. We are there to be shot at bit when we play well we get plaudits but not many of them."
