FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round
New Manor Ground, Awsworth Lane, Ilkeston
Saturday, 6th October 2012, 3.00pm
Robins Fly Into Next Round
This was another match where the score line didn't give a true reflection of an entertaining cup tie with both sides supported by a vocal following giving the New Manor Ground a true cup atmosphere.
Gresley went into the tie as clear underdogs and despite the rather flattering score line for the home side gave their hosts plenty to think about especially in the second half.
Two quite stunning goals from Gresley's Marc Goodfellow gave the visitors a glimmer of hope but in the end the side from the league above just about deserved the win but it was close!
Gresley made two changes with Mickey Lyons and Rob Spencer replacing Lavell White and Richard Hanslow in the starting line-up. Michael Nottingham had recovered from his thigh injury with Phil Massingham being given a place on the bench after also recovering from his recent injury.
As was to be expected Gresley were put under some early pressure and on the 9th minute found themselves a goal down when Aaron Hooton fired in a low shot across keeper Gary Hateley and into the far corner of the net.
The lead lasted six minutes as Gresley hit back in spectacular fashion. Awarded a free kick around 22 yards out Goodfellow hit an unstoppable shot which cleared the wall and arrowed into the top corner with Ilkeston keeper Ashley Timms well beaten. Goodfellow went close again minutes later with a shot that just cleared the bar.
On 30 minutes Ilkeston regained the lead when Darryl Thomas got the faintest of flicks on James Reid's to put his header into the bottom corner. And as the first half drew to a close Ilkeston should have increased their advantage but Reid missed one of the game's easiest chances firing his shot wide from close in.
Gresley came out for the second half looking determined to get back into the game and Dean Oliver had the first effort but put his shot wide.
Ilkeston's third goal came a little against the run of play. A superb through ball from Reid cut the Gresley backline in two and Thomas didn't make any mistake firing past the exposed Hateley.
Again to their credit Gresley hit back two minutes later and it was another top-draw finish which was worth the entrance fee alone. Spencer, on the edge of the penalty area, chested the ball down to Goodfellow who hit a volley which found the back of the net with Timms a mere spectator.
The visitors were on top for arguably the first time in the game and could have drew level on 58 minutes when Jamie Barrett's shot from distance took a deflection which almost caught Timms out but he managed to get a touch on the ball to send it for a corner.
A great flowing move saw Lyons pick out James Jepson who in turn found Goodfellow but the final shot went straight into Timms' midriff who did well to hang onto the ball.
Thomas, who was having a decent game, then made the miss of the match when he found himself through but with only Hateley to beat smashed a shot that cleared the bar by some distance.
At the other end Nottingham put a shot wide and Goodfellow almost bent a curling shot into the net but it missed the upright by a coat of paint. Goodfellow then had a shot which warmed the hands of Timms.
With time beginning to run out for the Moatmen Richard Hanslow replaced Craig Attwood who had himself replaced the injured Gareth Langford in the first half adding to their strike force.
However, with Gresley pushing up they almost conceded again when Jack Watts thrust forward hitting a stinging shot which Hateley managed to get a fingertip to pushing it over for a corner.
The final throw of the dice came for Gresley when striker Phil Massingham replaced defender Barrett and it meant that they could be caught short at the back and it almost happened on 88 minutes when Ilkeston substitute Dereece Gardner who had just come onto the pitch hit a shot on the turn which Hateley did well to hold onto.
Gresley had spent the final few minutes trying to get an equaliser and were caught out at the back but Jordi Gough did well to alleviate some of the pressure from the home side when he cleared an effort off the line but he and his team mates could do nothing to stop Matt Richards' shot from ending up in the back of the net to give the score line a somewhat flattering look.
Manager's View
"Marc Goodfellow pulled two fantastic strikes out and he's very capable of doing that as we know and you won't see many better goals than them on the TV tonight. He then had one that flashed wide and he's kicking himself about that. It was our best move of the match when we played some lovely football and it ended with James Jepson laying the ball back for him and the keeper put a good save in there.
"Ilkeston did have the ball for long periods as they were always going to do. They are a Premiership side, a very good young side and Kevin Wilson has got them playing some fantastic football.
"But, we hung in there and rode our luck and then went three-two. The hard thing was their third goal. We went to take a quick throw-in and it's then ended up in our net. Our guys bounced back and got a bit of luck with our second goal and I genuinely think then for a fifteen twenty minute spell we did really, really well. Certainly Ilkeston were a little bit worried at that time punctuated by the odd attack from them they were getting frustrated that they hadn't put the game to bed earlier and on other afternoons in the past we'd have snatched a replay maybe bit it wasn't to be!
"When I scouted Ilkeston against Belper their number eight Matt Richards and their number eleven James Reid were the two standout players for me and there were other players that we struggled with as well. But having said that a few of our players had decent games today. I thought some of the guys at the back did quite well. It seems daft saying we conceded three goals. Jordi Gough did really, really well I think. Dean Oliver did really well caused a lot of problems up front with the system we played today - he was very strong and perhaps on another day he might have got a few more free kicks of their five and six. Perhaps they wanted his shirt but you have to wait until after the game to swap shirts!
"Today was just one of those things. We gave it our best shot which was not good enough on the day and we move on to the next game which is pleasingly back in the league against Belper at the Moat on Tuesday and we'll see what we can do. Belper haven't had the best of starts from their own point of view. They had a good run last season and they'll be coming to beat us on Tuesday and it will be nice to play an old foe again now we're back at this level and see if we can get a positive result.
"We brought Kyle Bryant back in the squad today. We are taking it one game at a time and the opportunity was there today with the number of substitutes allowed to bring Kyle back in and it was nice to see him. We'll sit down and see what knocks we've got and then pick a squad for Tuesday.
"Regarding Jordi Gough I'm not aware of anything changing so he'll be suspended for next Saturday's game. I'm not sure if we've had the referee's report back so Jordi will be suspended rather than Dan Douglas who is injured ironically and that's why he was not involved today."
