Evo-Stik NPL Division One South
The Oval, Bedworth
Tuesday, 8th April 2014, 8.00pm
Gresley Hang On For The Points
The match was 15 minutes late kicking off owing to a traffic incident on the M6 with some players and supporters affected by the delay.
However, the delay didn't seem to affect Bedworth too much as they looked determined to try and get something from the game. The Greenbacks are perilously close to the one relegation slot and have Kidsgrove breathing down their necks so any slip up could prove very costly as they try to secure their step 4 status for another season.
On a very uneven surface Bedworth took the lead with the Mitchell Piggon slotting home his third goal in two games only for the visitors to level on the stroke of half time. A well taken penalty kick by Serge Makofo gave Gresley the lead but they had to hang on determinedly to ensure they took all three points back to Gresley.
Gresley manager Martin Rowe made several changes to the side which played Romulus over a week ago due to an enforced break on Saturday caused by Eastwood's demise. Matt Roome returned as right back with John Guy, who had recovered from a toe injury, slotting in at left back as Lucas Harrison served the first of his two match ban.
Mitch Hanson was shuffled across to partner Jamie Barrett at the heart of the defence and Kieran O'Connell, who had missed the last six games with a troublesome Achilles injury and Sam Grice was recalled into midfield after recovering from an injury.
Rowe had warned his side that it would be a difficult game and so it proved to be on a poor surface and against a physical Bedworth side.
Clear cut chances were at a premium in the first half with neither side creating anything to test the goalkeepers. But it was the home side who went the closest to opening the scoring. A shot from distance by Andre Westwood flashed just wide of the far post.
O'Connell racing in on goal was then brought down by Chris Tullin with the Bedworth skipper fortunate to see just a yellow card. Guy took the free kick from just outside the area but his shot went narrowly over the bar.
United were denied by the woodwork when Daniel Dubidat stuck a venomous shot from distance which crashed back off the bar with visiting keeper Mats Morch well beaten. However, they didn't have long to wait for a goal as Piggon gave his side the lead. Westwood did well to pick out his striker in the area and he took the chance well as he smashed the ball home.
The lead lasted just seven minutes as right on the half time whistle Gresley levelled. Eric Graves didn't give up as he harried the Bedworth back line and managed to push the ball forward for Paolo Piliero to smash into the net.
Gresley took the lead within a few minutes of the second half starting. Makofo was brought down from behind in the area by Marlon Walters giving referee Matthew Smith no option but to point to the spot. Walters was then involved in an unsavoury moment as he kicked out at Makofo who took exception to the kick. Mr Smith took the council of his assistants and unbelievably showed both players a yellow card with Walters very fortunate not to have been walking to the dressing room for an early bath.
Makofo chose to take the spot kick himself and coolly sent the Greenbacks keeper James Hogarth-Wren the wrong way for his first goal for the club.
Bedworth's Mitchell Thompson had a golden chance to get his side back on terms but his final shot when very well paced flew high over the bar. A speculative cross-cum-shot from Greenback's substitute Chad Degville-Cross came back off the junction of bar and far post. Westwood reacted quickly but his follow up was well blocked by Gresley keeper Mats Morch and Thompson once more put a good chance well over the bar.
A free kick from Luke Rowe eventually came to Ben Steane who fired wide and another chance went begging for the home side as another free kick was not converted at the far post as the ball fizzed across the box.
Guy went close to sealing the game up for Gresley but his header, from Piliero's corner, flashed wide of the far post. At the other end Morch did well to hold onto a shot from Nathan Lewars as it looked to be heading into the top near corner.
The final moments of the game were a bit of a farce as despite several blatant fouls from the home side and especially from Walters the referee continued to either let the offence go or to award Bedworth the foul much to the annoyance of players and supporters alike.
Referee Mr Smith managed to find an incredible eight and a half minutes of time to add on and with very nearly the last kick of the game Bedworth almost grabbed a share of the points when Luke Rowe hit a thunderous low shot but Morch was up to the task and saved well.
Manager's View
"We got three points but the referee didn't half try to give them another goal. I've never seen anything like it as they must have had in the last few minutes ten free kicks go their way. To be fair to our lads the stood up to it and did well to get the ball out of the danger areas.
"It was a battle but we knew it was going to be a battle tonight on a pitch which was bobbly as well but the lads stuck at it and defended well.
"In the first half Kieran O'Connell was through and got tripped up by their skipper who didn't get sent off only a yellow card and then the penalty which it definitely was. Their number six then hit Serge Mokofo. Everyone saw it and then the referee got both his linesmen together to ask them if they'd seen it but I thought the referee chickened out of that one.
"John Guy came in for Lucas Harrison who starts his suspension and I thought he did very well in the first half but died a little in the second but defensively we were great. Matt Roome has come in as though he's been with us all season. Matt is a really good player and never lets us down. It's just unfortunate that he's at University but he phoned me to say he's available over the Easter period from now until the end of April which is good news for us.
"Marc Strzyzewski has still not done any training because of his ankle injury. He'll give it a go tomorrow. Liam Guest's shoulder is still sore. He trained on Saturday but he was still feeling it and he's only got to go over on it and he'll be in serious trouble so both of them are doubtful for Saturday. I know both players are keen to play for the final few games.
"Zibusiso Nyatito played majority of the games for the reserves this season so we left hm out of the squad so that he can concentrate on their Derbyshire Divisional Cup final tomorrow (Wednesday). Hopefully we'll have a few supporters there to support the reserves who will be playing at Mickleover Sports ground and hopefully they can win it.
"Our next game is at Market Drayton on Saturday and we owe them one. We got cheated out of three points at our place by the official missing the hand ball so the lads want to put that right and hopefully that's what they'll do.
"Regarding next season, I've been in discussions with the chairman and they are going well. We know where we want to be but we've got to balance the books which is very important at Gresley because we don't want to end up where we were five or six years ago. The club is being run properly now and we'll work to the budget.
"We are still after sponsorship to help take the club forward and everyone at the club is working really hard trying to bring more sponsors in. If anyone out there knows of any sponsors who are looking to be major sponsors in a football club Gresley are looking for you and that's what we need at this club to help us move on.
"The supporters have been great at home this year and I'm sure that will continue"
