Pre-Season Friendly
The Raygar Arena
Monday, 5th August 2013, 7.30pm
Comfortable Win For Gresley
It was a comfortable evening for Gresley who very rarely needed to get out of second gear against a hardworking Graham Street Prims side.
With the midweek game against Warrington called off assistant manager Steve Titterton sent a strong side to the Raygar Stadium despite having several players unavailable.
Rob Spencer was recovering from a dead-leg, Eric Graves from a twisted ankle. John Guy and Marc Strzyzewski were both working, Gary Hateley is out of the country until Sunday and both Jordan Nadat and Mickey Lyons are out with back problems.
Almost from the off Gresley were putting the home defender under pressure with Richard Hanslow firing over and Dean Withers putting his shot wide.
Gresley's first goal came when Lucas Harrison made a good run down the left before sending a low cross to Withers who struck a shot into the far top corner.
Swallow went close for Prims slipping a shot just past the far post but it was Gresley who continued to apply the pressure with Hanslow having a shot saved by Hankey.
The lead was doubled just before the break when James Jepson took a quick free kick and put a superb ball through for Hanslow who coolly finished off the move slipping the ball under Hankey.
Right on the whistle the visitors went close to adding a third when another fine pass from Jepson picked out Hanslow who was unfortunate to see his delicate chip sail the wrong side of the far post.
Prims opened the second half with a chance when J Rushby made a run down the left before sending the ball for Swallow to try his luck but his effort flew wide.
Young Gresley keeper Alex Townsend made two good saves to keep the Prims out but it was only a slight respite as the action returned to the other end. Hayden Johns made a good run down the right but his pass was touched wide by Royce Turville.
Jepson was pulling the strings in midfield and another good pass sent substitute Dean Oliver through and the striker slipped the ball under the advancing Hankey.
Prims threatened the Gresley goal as the visitors seemed to take their foot off the pedal and the home side managed to get a consolation goal with very nearly the last touch of the night. Townsend did well to block a shot and minutes later made another fine block but was helpless to prevent a header going past him from the rebound.
Manager's View
"It was a good work out tonight. For eighty-five minutes we played some fantastic football. Prims never gave up and chased lost causes and worked us very hard.
"It looked comfortable for us as we passed the ball around very well. We moved the ball, got into space and we caused them no end of problems and it could have been four or five to be honest.
"I was pleased with James Jepson getting a full ninety minutes after recovering from his hernia operation in the summer so that was a good positive for us. Danny Holmes played fantastically at centre half for us as well.
"There were in total nine players missing tonight. Rob Spencer picked up a dead-leg on Saturday and had to come off at halftime and he was still feeling that. Eric Graves got a twisted ankle right at the end of Saturday's night. He came in tonight and I'd named him on the bench. He checked with the physio and decided it wasn't woth risking him.
"John Guy was working; Mickey Lyons has a back injury which made him come off on Saturday. Jordan Nadat has still got a back problem and he's about a week away. Matt Roome has just come back from America this afternoon so he's a bit jet lagged and Marc Strzyzewski had work commitments so with those missing we still put a very good side out tonight and did very well.
"Gary Hateley will not be back in the country until Sunday so he will be missing for Saturday's game but with Alex Townsend playing well on Saturday and again today there is no reason why he won't keep his place as he's done very well.
"I've spoken to three centre halves in the last three or four days. Simeon Labbate who came on in the second half a couple of games ago is working away in London so he couldn't make it tonight. We've spoken to two others. One has a groin injury which he picked up in pre-season training with another club but hopefully he's coming next week whether that will in time for Saturday we don't know. We are still looking and hopefully we'll get one out of those three."
