Evo-Stik NPL Division One South
BT Local Business Stadium, Dronfield
Saturday, 27th April 2013, 3.00pm
Gresley Grind Out A Win
Gresley were forced into making many changes as they were short of six first team players with Mickey Lyons, Danny Holmes and Marc Goodfellow all suspended, Jamie Barrett injured and Royce Turville and Gary Hateley both unavailable.
Reserve team players George Woodward, Ben Minshull, Sam Grice, and Brad Metcalf were all drafted into the squad for the trip to Dronfield for Gresley's penultimate league game of the season.
The home side started strongly with Lee Cooksey heading Andy Gascoigne's narrowly over at the far post.
Gresley went close themselves moments later with Richard Hanslow an inch or two away from connecting with Jordan Nadat's low cross from the left. Jordi Gough then tried his luck firing over the bar.
Gough then found his mark when Nadat picked him out with a good pass. He ran forward a few strides before smashing his shot past Sheffield keeper Liam Flynn.
Sheffield applied the pressure trying to get back on terms and went close with a superbly hit free kick from Joel Purkiss who was unlucky to see his effort skim the bar. However, they didn't have long to wait for a goal. Skipper Steve Woolley cut inside and hit an unstoppable shot into the top far corner of the net giving Gresley's keeper no chance at all.
The home side almost grabbed the lead minutes later when Shaq McKenzie struck a shot from distance that whistled over the bar.
With the first half drawing to a close Gresley grabbed the lead once more when Dean Rathbone launched a high ball over the Sheffield defence and Nadat ran onto the pass before coolly beating Flynn.
Sheffield almost levelled immediately when Purkiss hit a side footed shot which thankfully for Gresley was deflected wide of the target.
Gresley started the second half well with Ben Minshull firing wide of the far post but Sheffield had their fair share of the chances at the other end with Matt Roney shooting wide of the near post with his shot.
The save of the game came midway through the half when a free kick from Roney found Gascoigne who headed powerfully towards goal from close in but somehow Woodward pulled off a breath taking save pushing the ball over the bar.
At the other end Nadat put his header from Rathbone's free kick wide of the far post and then Richard Hanslow got his head to Nadat's cross from the left but Flynn saved well blocking his effort. From the resultant corner Michael Nottingham headed over the bar.
With the game deep into time added on Jamie Hadfield had a golden chance to grab a share of the points for his side when he was put through but could only put his shot over the bar with only Woodward to beat leaving the visitors to travel back to South Derbyshire with all three points.
Manager's View
"I think on the balance of play we deserved that today. Early in the second half we had some good opportunities to go three-one up.
"Over the balance of the ninety minutes and the squad we've had out today, if I'm honest, that's as pleasing a three points all season that I've personally been involved in. We had five reserve team players in today and we finished with four of them on the pitch. Two of them did the full ninety George Woodward and Ben Minshull who player very, very well and kept the shape.
"George made a fantastic save. He's kicked well; he's handled well, talked when he's need to and commanded his box. Sam Grice has come on and done a little shift for us for twenty five minutes and then Rikki Birch come on at the end and run his legs off out there trying to put pressure on their defence so they couldn't come out easy.
"Unfortunately we couldn't get young Brad Metcalf on the pitch but I was very proud of the lads and they deserved that over the ninety minutes.
"I think we'll have Royce Turville, Marc Goodfellow and Rob Spencer back for next week. Mickey Lyons is still suspended as is Danny Holmes and I think Gary Hateley is back as well but on the last two performances George hasn't done anything wrong at all. There is an emotional side of it because it will be my last game and Gary is the club captain and I want him to be involved in some way but George has done fantastically well whenever he's put a Gresley shirt on this season so we've got to make sure we make the right decision. Gary will understand that but we've got a difficult decision to make.
"There may be a few others available so we'll have to wait and see. Jamie Barrett will definitely be out next week as he's had minor surgery on his hand because it's not knitted together so unfortunately he won't be involved next week.
"Before we even think about next week I just want to say it was a very satisfying win with the young lads we had out there and I want to get back in the dressing room and congratulate them.
"Next Saturday will be a very emotional game for me. It's not all about me but come quarter to five or ten to five it will be very emotional. I've wondered many times this week as to whether I've made the right decision but we'll give it a go and see. Never say never as to whether I'll be back in management again. I'm only thirty nine so we'll have to see but after afternoons like this you do get the bug again.
"I'm going to enjoy next Saturday and try to take it in. It would have been nice if it had been at home but let's try and get three points and hopefully we can say goodbye in style.
"There may be a few tears and who can blame me. It's a great club to be involved with and to have completed ten years as manager is very satisfying personally and I consider that I'm leaving with my head held high. There have been some highs and there have been some lows but we're back at this level and it's a good place to be."
