Evo-Stik NPL Division One South
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Monday, 26th August 2013, 3.00pm
Dismal Start Continues
Gresley's dismal start to the season continued as they were beaten by Bedworth United at the Moat Ground. After a great away win against Scarborough on Saturday this performance was the proverbial 'after the Lord Mayor's show' with the home side failing to reach the heights they did against the Seadogs.
Bedworth played with determination and enterprise after playing eighty-seven minutes with just ten men after midfielder Aaron Forde was shown a straight red card for a tackle on Danny Holmes which in all honesty looked harsh.
To their credit the visitors didn't let that incident affect them and at times it was difficult to tell which side had the extra player as Gresley found it difficult to break the opposition down although enough chances were made to have won the game which were not converted and the woodwork clattered twice.
Gresley made changes again for this game with Homes, who missed the trip to Bridlington, coming back into the midfield and new signing Kieran O'Connell up front. Still missing were Jordan Nadat (back), Marc Goodfellow (knee), Dean Oliver (hamstring) and Rob Spencer (ankle).
The Moatmen came of the blocks quickly and went close to opening the scoring when, with hardly a minute on the clock, Eric Graves hit a thumping shot which United keeper Andrew Kemp did well to push away for a corner.
Then just two minutes later a tackle from Aaron Forde on Holmes was adjudged by referee to have been serious enough to warrant a straight red card which perplexed the players and supporters of both sides.
The decision only led to United digging deep and playing their hearts out frustrating the Gresley side and their supporters who were mistaken if they thought it was going to be a push over from them on in.
Gresley were inches away from taking the lead when Marc Strzyzewski headed James Jepson's corner just over the bar and then Lucas Harrison fired a low shot narrowly wide of the.
United themselves should have taken the lead on the half hour mark when Josh O'Grady was brought down in the area by Hayden Johns. However, Aden More's spot kick was a poor one and Gresley keeper made the save.
Another chance for Gresley came and went when Holmes put over a superb cross which was met by John Guy but the header was straight at the keeper.
Lady Luck was definitely at the Moatground as Graves pulled off a spectacular over-head kick right on the half time whistle only to see his effort hit the bar and go over.
The woodwork came to United's rescue again early in the second half when Graves cut the ball back to Holmes but his low shot came back off the base of the far post. It was so frustrating for the home side as the ball would not find itself in the back of United's net as yet again they were denied when substitute Richard Hanslow connected well with Graves's pass but the goal bound shot was deflected from its target.
Slightly against the run of play United took the lead when a header from Moore looked to have looped over the bar but it seemed to deceive Ross Etheridge and the ball went over the head of the tall keeper and into the net.
Minutes later United thought they had won themselves another penalty but instead of pointing to the spot referee Edwin Smart booked O'Grady for diving.
With Gresley throwing everything forward to try and claim at least a point they were caught out but after making a quick break the ball came to Moore and with the goal gaping he wanted far too much time and he could only fire wide as the Gresley defenders recovered.
United wrapped up the points with a minute left of normal time when O'Grady made a good run down the left and hit a low shot which Etheridge got a hand to only to push it out to the waiting David Blenkinsopp who did what all good striker do and stick the rebound into the net.
An improvement is needed on Saturday if Gresley are to progress in this season's FA Cup as they visit Burton Latimer to take on Kettering Town in the Preliminary Round.
Manager's View
"The majority of the players all played on Saturday and when Bedworth went down to ten men so early on in the game I thought our lost thought it was only a matter of time. The longer it went on the worse we got.
"We created a few chances but we didn't get going. I don't know if they were still shattered from Saturday but after Saturday it was a bit like 'after the Lord Mayor's show'.
"I don't think I've ever seen David Blenkinsopp work so hard he really had a good game today but we've got to look at ourselves and that wasn't good enough.
"We tried changing things at half time by going two up top and trying to get a wide man to go up but we were too slow passing the ball today. I don't know why, it's frustrating!
"Richard Hanslow has had two chances, the far post from a corner nine times out of ten he would stick them away. He's lacking a bit of pitch time but when you come on you've got to show that you want to play for the team and get stuck in and make my life difficult. Richard is not to blame today the whole team just did not perform.
"We missed Rob Spencer's work rate today. Rob is one of those players who is a bit more direct. Kieran O'Connell has come in and done well today but he needed that person busting a gut to get by him so we could open things up. But, I thought I think Kieran did alright today but we just lacked that bit of desire to go on and win the game today.
"Looking ahead to Saturday, Jordan Nadat is most likely three weeks away. He'll be in full training this week and will need a few games to get ready and I think by the beginning of October he'll be back if not before. Marc Goodfellow trained last Thursday and his knee swelled up again and we'll have to have a look again on Thursday to see how he is.
"We are trying to bring in another defender as we speak just to bolster us up a bit at the back. Hopefully, we'll have Matt Roome back for Saturday but we'll have to see how Matt is at training. Rob Spencer should be okay for the Kettering game. He picked an ankle injury which swelled up quite badly so that's why he wasn't playing today. Dean Oliver has a hamstring injury so I think Rob stands a better chance of the two. I don't think Dean will be fit enough to play.
"We seem to play better away than at home at the moment. I was the same last season. I don't know why. We prepare them in the same way, we try to play a bit more attacking the way we played today but for some unknown reason we didn't click which is disappointing for my staff and me as well. But as Jamie Barrett said we've all got to stick together and get through it!"
