Evo-Stik NPL Division One South
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 28th December 2013, 3.00pm
Robbed!
Gresley can feel robbed of all three points when a controversial last minute goal was allowed to stand. A high ball into the box was clearly punched into the net by Yannick Makota. Angry protests by players, management and supporters but to the amazement of everyone the referee, after a glance to his assistant, gave the goal.
Manager Martin Rowe was forced into changes with both Jamie Barrett and John Guy out through injury but Mitch Hanson was fit to rejoin the squad and Marc Strzyzewski had completed his two game suspension.
In all honesty it was a pretty dour affair after the excitement of Boxing Day but it was Town who started the quickest with Robert Stevenson testing keeper Mats Morch in the first minute with a low shot which he dealt with comfortably.
Kieran O'Connell had Gresley's first chance when he turned before hitting his shot wide. O'Connell then turned provider as he slipped a pass to Rob Spencer who shot well but Town keeper Damien Stevens diving to his right made the save.
Gresley took the lead on 13 minutes when Hanson headed home Jack Langston's corner from the left.
Town responded with Makota hitting a shot at the near post which Morch did well to block. They levelled just before the break when William Whieldon headed home Stevenson's cross.
The home side went close to regaining the lead early in the second half but Liam Guest's header from Langston's corner grazed the bar as it flew over.
On a heavy pitch neither side was finding easy to play football but it was Gresley who were making the clearer chances with Lucas Harrison firing over the bar and O'Connell inches away from connecting with a ball into the area.
Morch needed to be alert when Stevenson found Kyle Blake with a pass but the keeper was up to the task making a good save.
Seconds later Gresley were in front again. A high ball over the defence was raced onto by Spencer who got to the ball at the same time as the onrushing Stevens. Both players made contact with the ball which then sailed into the empty net.
Gresley substitute Royce Turville had a good chance to add to the tally but blazed his effort well over the bar from a good position. Spencer then flicked a header on to O'Connell who flashed a shot across the face of Stevens' goal.
Just as it seemed that Gresley had taken all the spoils and into time added on the controversial goal arrived. The high ball to the far post was a couple of inches too high for Makota but with the aid of his hand he punched the ball into the net, a sickening blow for the Gresley players and supporters who made their views very clear as loud booing followed the officials off the ground at the end of the game.
Manager's View
"It's so frustrating. On Boxing Day we had some very good officials and today we have official that miss a blatant hand ball. The lad punched the ball into the back of the net and how the referee and the linesman have not seen it is unbelievable. Three hundred odd supporters saw it and even their management were embarrassed about it but they'll still take the point home with them.
"I didn't think we were quite on it today. Maybe the Coalville game took a bit out of us. I did think about resting players but I asked all the players whether anyone needed a rest but to be fair they all wanted to keep playing but we looked a bit tired today but we kept going.
"We need to get Alex Steadman going and I think it was a lack of fitness which caught Alex out a bit today. Royce Turville came on and had a good chance of putting one in the back of the net but unfortunately he didn't. I think it's just lack of games for Royce at the moment.
"We kept going but if that hand ball had been at the other end the officials would have seen it! It's so frustrating!
"The back four played well today. We had to do a reshuffle so we brought Mitch Hanson in alongside Liam Guest. We brought Lucas Harrison in who I shouldn't have left out the other day but they did fine. They had no problems at all and defended well and Mats Morch didn't have much to do. They had one cross and it was punched into the back of the net. You could see from the reaction from our players, they knew it was a hand ball.
"I've got a squad of players who are really disappointed that they didn't win on Boxing Day and today. We've got to forget that and keep concentrating now.
"Danny Holmes is back training and I think in another fortnight he'll be back. He may be on the bench for Saturday or the week after. Jamie Barrett and John Guy should both be okay for the New Year's game but we'll just keep an eye on them.
"We need to bounce back again. We are absolutely gutted to come away with only a point. It feels like a defeat. Things aren't going for us at the moment but we are knitting together as a team and we'll get there.
"Regarding the goalkeeping situation, we are in talks with Derby County that are ongoing but it looks like Mats Morch will likely be with us now until April. There is just a bit of paperwork to be completed."
