Evo-Stik NPL Division One South
Victoria Pleasure Grounds, Goole
Saturday, 21st September 2013, 3.00pm
Away Day Win For Gresley
Gresley made their second longest trip of their league campaign and came away with all three points. Their only other win was also on the road at Bridlington when they beat Scarborough.
Eric Graves opened the scoring for the visitors with Kieran O'Connell adding a second just before the break. Marc Goodfellow added a third within minutes of the second half starting and Chris Ovington completed the scoring with a consolation goal for the Vikings.
Manager Martin Rowe had to shuffle his squad with John Guy taking the left back slot vacated by the injured Lucas Harrison. O'Connell took Rob Spencer's place and skipper Jamie Barrett returned after missing the last three games. James Jepson had recovered from his knee injury collected against Eastwood Town. With O'Connell pushed forward Sam Grice was given a start in midfield.
The first fifteen minutes or so consisted of who could take the best corners but on 24 minutes Gresley made an opening with Goodfellow hitting a volley just over the bar.
Gresley took a deserved lead when Mitch Hanson sent over a cross from the left and whether the home keeper misjudged the flight of the ball or it deceived him the result was Graves coming in at the far post was able to knock the ball home.
Despite Goole forcing two corners Gresley's defence was hardly troubled and it was the visitors who extended their lead. The unfortunate Lee Appleby was not having the best of days and his half hearted clearance went only as far as O'Connell who controlled well, skipped around a defender before burying the ball in the back of the net.
Gresley started the second half as they finished the first pressing forward and they got their rewards with just four minutes on the clock when Goodfellow hit a superb shot from the edge of the area. They could have gone further ahead on the hour mark but Dean Oliver's low shot was held by Appleby.
A rare attempt on goal from Goole came with twenty minutes remaining when Ovington hit a stinging free kick but Ross Etheridge was alert tipping the ball over the bar.
Gresley had two more chances to add to their tally. Goodfellow sent debutant Charlie Wilson through on goal but his shot was blocked by the legs of the keeper and minutes later Wilson turned provider. Despite having his shirt pulled he managed to slip the ball to Goodfellow who also had his shot saved by Appleby.
Goodfellow then attempted one of his spectacular efforts. Seeing the keeper well off his line he chipped the ball from 40 yards and was unlucky to see the ball clear the bar.
Etheridge had a rare save to make when Jack Woolley tested him but the low shot was weak and the keeper grabbed the ball at the second attempt.
Goole got their consolation goal with almost the last kick of the game. Etheridge seemed to have been clattered trying to claim the ball. Another referee on another day would have blown for a foul on the keeper but Mr Haycock allowed play to continue and with Etheridge on the floor, Ovington hammered the ball into the empty net but it was far too little far too late as Gresley claimed a fully deserved and vital three points.
Manager's View
"It was not quite the perfect day, the lads are really upset. I felt for the last ten minutes we should have kept the ball and frustrated then a bit more but we gave it away and got punished near the end.
"Overall I thought we deserved it. Goole played a lot from the back but in the last third they had no punch and we just stuck to our game and wore them away. We are starting to play now and getting the ball down and the players are starting to get to know each other - it was very encouraging today.
"The good thing about away trips, I had a word with all the players on the way up and two things I said to both Eric Graves and Kieran O'Connell it's about time you score and the both delivered. I did ask Marc Strzyzewski to score one but I don't think it's ever going to happen. No doubt he will score when the ball hits him on the back of the head and it'll go in!
"For their goal I thought the Goole forwards had no intention of going for the ball. Ross Etheridge had come for everything today, commanded it and they've just gone straight into him and the referee missed it which he did on a few occasions for us, we didn't get the run of the ball at all.
"In the first half Dean Oliver didn't get punished as he went for the ball - it was there to be won. People have got to remember that this is a game of football and if there is a fifty-fifty ball to be won players will go for it and that's what Dean did, he actually won the ball.
"Charles Wilson looks a bit rusty to be fair and he should have scored two goals. He's a bit gutted but we'll work with him to get his fitness up to where it should be. I'm sure he'll be a promising player.
"I'm looking forward to the Sutton Coldfield game on Monday. I'm pretty sure last year when we played at Sutton we beat them but they beat us at the Moat Ground. I've just said to the players that today's nothing unless they back it up with three points on Monday.
"We will have to rest some of our senior players. Two games in three days is a bit hard but we'll have a look at that on Monday and see how they are. Danny Holmes will return to the squad and Jordan Nadat had a game for the reserves today so he may be brought in as well."
