Pre-Season Friendly
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 20th July 2013, 3.00pm
Dynamo Shine At The Moat Ground
A sparkling first half display from Shepshed Dynamo did the damage in this pre-season friendly. Striker Luke Edwards struck twice and Steve Chaplin added a third goal as the visitors went in at half time with a comfortable lead having been on top for most of the forty-five minutes.
However, Gresley manager Martin Rowe made several changes at the break and it was the turn of the home side to dominate the play but they couldn't break down a stubborn Dynamo back line ably marshalled by former Moat Ground favourite Chris Gray.
Dynamo set their stall out early looking far sharper and determined on the ball. Their pressure rewarded them with two corners in quick succession. Their persistence paid off after just seven minutes when Edwards was allowed to strike a shot from distance that flew past Gresley keeper Gary Hateley and into the far corner of the net. Benn Minshall went close to levelling but his shot flew over the bar.
Dynamo's second goal was a poor one to concede to be honest. The ball was by the corner flag on the right and instead of putting the ball out for a corner Edwards was able to steal the ball from the Gresley defender and run unchallenged along the bye line before flashing a shot past Hateley and into the far top corner.
Things got even worse for the home side just before the break when Kieron Davies made a good run down the left before putting in a cross to the unmarked Chaplin who headed past the helpless Hateley.
Gresley made several changes at the interval with Jordan Nadat, Rob Spencer and Dean Rathbone replacing Dean Oliver, Minshull and Strzyzewski and it seemed to have the desired effect as the home side found their feet and at last began to put the Dynamo back line under some pressure.
Within eight minutes Gresley had reduced the deficit. Marc Goodfellow picked out Nadat on the right and after a touch the substitute slipped the ball past keeper Ryan Thacker.
Richard Hanslow then fed the ball through for Goodfellow who cut inside but he was unlucky to see his shot fly past the far post.
Despite Gresley having the better of the proceedings Edwards was the width of a post from claiming his hat-trick. After making a run down the left he fired a low shot that flew across Hateley but cannoned off the base of the far post and away. Hanslow struck a shot over the bar and Nadat had a low shot well held by Thacker down to his left.
A rare second half attempt on goal by the visitors should have increased their lead. A double ricochet saw the ball fall at substitute Rob Malonga's feet but the striker somehow conspired to fire wide of the gapping goal.
Gresley had a very good shout for a penalty late on when substitute Lucas Harrison burst into the area only to have his legs taken away by two Dynamo defenders. It looked a nailed on spot kick but amazingly referee Dan Edwards failed to see anything wrong in the tackles.
Harrison then fired a stinging shot which Thacker could not hold but no there was no Gresley player on hand to put the ball into the net before it was cleared for a corner kick. The flag kick taken by substitute James Jepson came out to Harrison who once more hit a tremendous shot which looked goal bound but instead took a deflection for another corner.
The final say of the match went to Gresley when Spencer fired wide.
A game of the proverbial two halves which easily could have finished six goals apiece but Shepshed will be the happier of the two sides this time around.
Manager's View
"Defensively we got bullied at the back today. I felt the lad up front Edwards could do just what he wanted.
"We weren't strong enough in the first half. There first goal, alright a good goal, but someone should have closed him down but he was given time and our keeper Gary Hateley really didn't have much of a chance.
"The second goal, the ball should have been put out for a throw-in or a corner. In a normal league game that's what the guys would have done. In the end Edwards got the ball and managed to put it away and the third goal we gave it away and it was very disappointing.
"We had a little chat at halftime and changed things around a bit and I thought we played a lot better in the second half and we did create things but their number ten kept causing us a few problems which we never quite resolved. We are still looking at this formation and we learnt a lot from the game.
"James Jepson came on and showed his normal self as though he'd never been away. He's still recovering from a hernia operation and is a few weeks behind everyone else. Jon Guy did okay when we put him in the back, nice and solid. Eric Graves was struggling to get into the game; he's still lacking a bit of fitness but he'll be fine.
"We signed Dean Withers on Wednesday and we are still looking at Connor Wright. We need a big squad as we know what the Evo-Stik league is like and they hit you hard.
"We still have a few friendlies left to play and as I've just said to the players they've got to work a bit harder. We didn't do that today. Tuesday's game was a bit too easy for us so perhaps they went out with the wrong attitude today and it seems that when we bring the lads in early to practice set plays the game doesn't go our way.
"Danny Holmes looks fitter and is working with Derby County but he wasn't himself today and he'll admit that. He likes to get stuck in and control the game but a few players were not at the races today. That's what pre-season is all about getting the fitness up and gaining a bit of confidence for when we start.
"It'll be a tough game against Ilkeston on Tuesday but I'd rather play the harder teams. I'm sure the lads will do fine. We'll look at our formation again and see if can tweak it and try to get a bit more from the lads we had today.
"Regarding backup keepers, we've got a couple in mind at the moment. Gary Hateley will be fine. I've had a good chat will Gaz, when he got back from his holidays, about his commitment to the club. We all know that last year due to business reasons he wasn't available all the time. He's done his stint this year and had a word with his boss and he will be more available this year and I'm very happy with his commitment."
