Evo-Stik NPL Division One South
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 7th September 2013, 3.00pm
Last Gasp Heartbreak For Gresley
Gresley were dealt a blow deep into time added on when referee Marc Perry adjudged Lucas Harrison's handball in the area was deliberate which was a very harsh decision indeed. The ball seemed to spring up off the grass and hit his hand which he couldn't do anything about as it happened very quickly. Many referees would not have penalised him but Mr Perry pointed to the spot from where Ryan Tinsley sent Gresley keeper the wrong way.
It was a poor end to what had been a duel between evenly matched sides where neither side deserved to win or lose and a draw being the fair result.
Gresley where missing several players Marc Goodfellow at a wedding as was Jamie Barrett with Jordan Nadat still injured but debuts were given to new signings Mitch Hanson and Liam Guest.
The home keeper Ross Etheridge made a very early save to deny former Moatman Kris Nurse turning his shot away for a corner. The action swung to the other end with Rob Spencer sending Royce Turville through but Dynamo keeper Laurie Pearson made a good block. Mickey Lyons was then the provider for Eric Graves but the final shot was straight at the keeper.
Gresley were the width of the cross bar away from taking the lead when John Guy's header from James Jepson's free kick clipped the top of the bar.
Etheridge was on hand again to deny Nurse making two blocks to deny the Dynamo frontman and then grabbing the ball at the third attempt before the forward could react again.
Turville had another chance midway through the half but didn't quite connect correctly firing wide of the post. Dynamo had a chance to take the lead late in the first half but Etheridge cleared the ball off his line.
Both sides made changes at the break with Michael Fitzhugh replacing the injured Turville and Jordan Holmes replacing the injured first half substitute Nathan Kelly.
Dynamo went close almost from the start of the half when Tnsley's well struck free kick clipped the top of the bar. Lyons then had a shot saved by Pearson who was quick to react also saving the follow-up.
The game seemed to go flat with both sides having difficulty in finding that decisive final ball and although corners and free kicks were awarded none were productive.
With the game drifting away for a deserved draw a controversial moment altered the result. Unlucky Harrison could do nothing to prevent the bouncing ball from hitting his hand and the referee made his own decision in a split second with his assistant making no indication that's he'd seen the offence although being nearer the incident.
The result was hard to accept and the Gresley players and supporters left the Moat Ground feeling that at least a share of the points had been deserved but at the last gasp been denied.
Manager's View
"I'm gutted! It was unbelievable. How can a referee make an instant decision like that saying it was a penalty? The ball has come off the ground and hit Lucas Harrison and he know nothing about it. It was not intentional it was just one of those things. It happens all the time in football. The referee made his decision in seconds that it was deliberate handball. Never in a month of Sundays!
"I thought we played well today. I've been critical with the players over our first two home games when I didn't think we had the passion or desire to win the games. But, today we've had that passion and desire. Players going in winning fifty-fifty balls and our players wanted it today and they deserved to get something out of the game.
"Football likes kicking you when you are down there but it's up to us to get the lads up. We've got another game on Tuesday against Chasetown so we go again.
"We are short of attackers at the moment. We'll have to see what is available and make a few phone calls. I'm sure we'll get someone in. It's a shame because Royce Turville was getting back to his old self. Last week he played well and he was playing well again today. It's just unfortunate but it seems to happen all at the same time.
"I think Mitch Hanson has done well today. He came in and straightaway looked like he'd been playing for us for years. He's just lacking a bit of fitness at the moment. Liam Guest has done extremely well being chucked in when Marc Strzyzewski had to come off and I was very impressed with him.
"I wouldn't be afraid to put Liam and John Guy in defence. John had another good game today and it was as if he'd been playing in that position all season, he looked very comfortable today. We'll have to see how Jamie Barrett is and Strez looks only fifty-fifty for Tuesday.
"Gary Hateley has just come back and Ross Etheridge is with us until the 15th September. Gary needs to get a few games in to get match fit possibly with the reserves."
