Evo-Stik NPL Division One South
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Thursday, 26th December 2013, 3.00pm
Stalemate At The Moat
Gresley staged a fine comeback to share the points against highflying Coalville Town in the Boxing Day encounter at the Moat Ground.
Rob Spencer opened the scoring for the home side but a five minute spell in the early stages of the second half seemingly put the Ravens in charge but a stirring fight back by Gresley saw them claim a fully deserved share of the points.
Gresley manager Martin Rowe made just one change to the side that started at Brigg last weekend with Jamie Barrett returning to centre half and John Guy taking the left back slot.
It was the home side which made the better start in front of the biggest gate of the season with only a superbly timed tackle denying Kieran O'Connell a goal with hardly a minute on the clock - the defender getting a toe to the ball as O'Connell burst into the area and was about to fire his shot. Seconds later Jordan Nadat had a chance but Mats Morch made a fine block.
Alex Steadman then went close with a shot which was well held by Town keeper Sean Bowles at his near post before Morch needed to be alert seconds later to tip Callum Woodward's strike over the bar.
The Gresley crowd thought their side had taken the lead when a flowing move between Spencer, Paulo Piliero and Eric Graves but Piliero's shot was fired into the side netting.
However, the crowd didn't have long to wait for a goal and when it came it gained the loudest cheer of the afternoon. A cross from the right from Jack Langston was met by the head of Spencer who beat Bowles to the ball putting it into the net to help wipe out some of the painful memory of that game last New Year's Day when a collision with Bowles ended with a double fracture of the jaw for Spencer and no more football that season.
Early in the second half Steadman went close to doubling the Gresley advantage but his shot scorched the top of the Town's bar.
Gresley, who had been comfortable in the game, soon found themselves two goals behind in the space of just five minutes.
All three goals for the visitors had a bit of luck about them. The first on 56 minutes came when Jordan Hempenstall's shot from the left took a huge deflection to wrong foot Morch.
The second three minutes later was even more fortunate. Nadat slipped the ball forwards to Ben Saunders who was a couple of yards offside but with the referee and her assistant behind the play the move was allowed to go on with Saunders shooting into the far bottom corner.
The third goal was a result of an unfortunate slip by Liam Guest and Nadat took advantage beating Morch.
It is a mark of this Gresley side that they did not give up or let their heads drop. They rolled their sleeves up and took the game to Coalville which began to rattle the visitors. Their hard work was rewarded on 68 minutes when Graves slid the ball through to Steadman who finished in emphatic style giving Bowles no chance.
More harassing of the Coalville defence created the equalising goal on 76 minutes. Steadman once more caused problems and was brought down by Danny Jenno in the area giving Ms Rashid no option but to point to the spot. Langston made no mistake beating Bowles. What was a little surprising was the leniency from the referee who failed to send Jenno off for the offence after being previously booked.
However, the referee was perfectly placed to see an off-the-ball incident as the penalty was scored showing Woodward, who had already been booked, a straight red card.
Jenno then brought out a good save from Morch diving to his left and then at the other end Spencer made the keeper have two attempts to grab hold of his shot as Gresley looked for a winner.
Manager's View
"There were loads of talking points today after Saturday's disappointing result where we all knew we'd played well but failed to finish them off.
"Today, playing against a difficult team, we did well. We approached the game well in the first half and deservedly went one-nil up and just lost our way towards the end of the first half. I thought we played some pretty good stuff on a difficult pitch.
"Second half we came out and took the game to them. Alex Steadman had a terrific chance when he cut in from the left and let rip and the ball went just over the bar.
"Unfortunately, they got back into it again with a deflection which beat Mats Morch at the near post. There is nothing you can do about them. There second goal, Jamie Barrett has gone to sleep and the third Liam Guest has gone to sleep. Basically we gave them two goals.
"We then had a fight on our hands but I thought the team showed great spirit to come back into the game. We kept believing and Alex made it three two and then we got the penalty with fifteen minutes to go which Jack Langston put away.
"I felt they were a very intimidating team trying to bully us but we stood up to it and if our two central defenders had done better we may have likely won the game three-one.
"Jamie Barret got a knock in the first half and had treatment at half time. He said he was okay and went out for the second half. We were just getting Lucas Harrison ready to bring Jamie off but unfortunately they scored. But, that's how it goes. Perhaps we made a wrong decision bringing Jamie in because when Lucas did come on it gave us a bit more energy at the back. I felt John Guy was very secure at centre back today.
"I thought the referee Lisa Rashid did very well today. She kept on top of the game, any flash points she was there stopping players and I think players respect a female referee. I think maybe if it had been a male referee the language may have been a bit different.
"If I have one criticism, the penalty when their number 4 brought Steadman down he should have walked because he had already been booked but that's how it goes. I think Lisa has been one of the better referees we've had this season."
