Evo-Stik NPL Division One South
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 25th January 2014, 3.15pm
Turville Double Helps Gresley To The Points
You could have been forgiven if you'd have been at the Moat Ground half-an-hour before kickoff thinking 'I'll be going home in the next few minutes or so' as a torrential storm of gale force wind, thunder, lightening, hail and rain drenched the area seriously threatening the game.
Surprisingly the referee Michael Scriven gave the go ahead although fifteen minutes late to give the game every chance of being played. The thunder and rain having subsided, the pitch was left a very muddy, slippery, strength sapping challenge to both sides and to all the players credit they played an entertaining game.
Gresley striker Royce Turville, given a starting role, opened the scoring with further goals from Eric Graves and Mickey Lyons before Turville claimed his double early in the second half. Leek managed a consolation goal just after the hour mark through Jordan Johnson.
After last Saturday's defeat at Kidsgrove Gresley manager Martin Rowe made changes with Turville, Lyons and Sam Grice being given a start and Mitch Hanson returning after injury.
On what can only be described as very testing pitch both sides attempted to play some entertaining football for the hardy souls who had made the trip to the aptly named Moat Ground but it was very difficult as players struggled to keep their footing.
It was Gresley who made the first chance early in the first half with Lyons hitting a shot straight at visiting keeper Ben Chapman which he held onto the slippery ball well.
Gresley's pressure paid dividends when Lucas Harrison sent over the perfect whipped cross from the left which was met by Turville who powered his header from eight yards out past keeper Ben Chapman who was left grasping thin air.
With clear chances at a premium it was Gresley who went close again with John Guy finding Rob Spencer with a pass but the final shot cleared the bar. However, the home side didn't have long to await to double their advantage when on 39 minutes Turville slipped the ball back to Kieran O'Connell whose shot seemed to deceive Chapman and headed towards the base of the near post. With the keeper still looking for the ball Eric Graves's quick thinking saw him race in and slide the ball over the line.
Leek looked shell shocked and four minutes later they found themselves three goals behind. O'Connell was fouled near the left corner flag and his quick thinking saw the ball slipped to Lyons who strode forwards and slotted the ball past Chapman and into the bottom far corner. The visitors were a little annoyed and the referee had to explain as to why he awarded the goal and so the score stood.
A rare attempt on the Gresley goal came early in the second half when John Johnson skipped his way through the home defence but keeper Mats Morch was alert to make a fine block.
Two minutes later the action was down at the other end and it was another piece of quick thinking that saw Gresley add their fourth goal. A quickly taken free kick was played by O'Connell who slotted the ball through to Lyons who in turn found Turville who fired a low shot which beat Chapman at his near post.
With only their second attempt on the Gresley goal Leek managed to reduce the deficit when Jordan Johnson, who did well to keep his footing, skipped across the area before burying the ball into the bottom corner of the net. Tim Grice then went close but headed the ball straight into the midriff of keeper Morch.
Rowe, who had earlier replaced the hard working Turville with Alex Steadman, made two further changes when he brought on Danny Holmes and Paolo Piliero for Lyons and Grice, who had run their legs off, to strengthen the midfield and see the game through to a conclusion and his substitutions helped get the desired result and three very welcome points against one of the title contenders.
Manager's View
"That game sums our season up. I can't say we've played teams below us as just about everyone are above us at the moment!
"We wanted a reaction after last week's disappointing result and we got it today. When I turned up I thought the pitch is alright and then we had the downpour and I thought no way is this game is going to be on particularly with how we like to get the ball down and play the conditions weren't going to suit us.
"The referee decided to give it fifteen minutes so we played the game but to be fair the pitch was only just playable and credit to our lads today they played on the pitch hard and they never gave Leek any time on the ball.
"We did well and the changes we made today worked as well. Royces Turville did alright up front, got two goals and played very well. He linked well with Mickey Lyons who also had a good game. Bringing Mitch Hanson back helped. He had a good solid game. All though the game I thought the back four looked solid on a very difficult pitch.
"The build up play for the first goal was excellent. It was touch, touch and the ball came to Lucas Harrison who knew exactly what to do that you've got to get the ball in the box, which he did and Royce is a predator and that's what Royce does.
"We've had a very tough game today so I'm sure we'll be making changes for the Belper game on Tuesday. Obviously it's going to suit us playing on that almost perfect pitch so we'll be looking forward to that - the lads can't wait to get out again.
"Jack Langston is away at the moment but credit to Sam Grice today, him and Eric Graves didn't stop working and did everything simple and played really well but Sam has done extremely well today. Whenever we've called on Sam he's done well but Danny Holmes is a very experienced player. He's not quite there with his fitness but I'm sure it won't be long.
"We've had quite a few negative comments on the website. All the players read it and they were as disappointed as anyone last week so let's hope the keep on at the players because every time the do we get a reaction!"
