Evo-Stik NPL Division One South
Ashby Avenue, Lincoln
Saturday, 1st March 2014, 3.00pm
More Gresley Travel Woes
Gresley's dismal away record now stretching to eight consecutive league defeats continued as they slipped to defeat at lowly Lincoln United. The last league points on the road came back in early November when they beat Sutton Coldfield Town.
Their cause was not helped when John Guy was given a straight red card for a tackle on Dan Brooks just before the hour mark and manager Martin Rowe, protesting about the treatment his players were receiving, sent to the stand as tempers began to flare.
The visitors were stretched with the Kieran O'Connell, Mickey Lyons and Jack Langston all absent and Royce Turville having to be substituted by debutant Zibusiso Nyatito just before the half time break due to a head wound which required treatment by a medic.
Gresley looked comfortable especially in the first period as they dealt with the home side's long high ball tactics and had early chances to take the lead. Mitch Hanson was the first to go close heading Paolo Piliero's corner over the bar. Guy then tested home keeper Robert Peel with a well struck free kick from 25 yards which he dealt with well.
The first action for Gresley keeper Mats Morch was having to deny Brooks with a fine save from his long-range effort.
On 19 minutes Gresley did take the lead. Another corner from Piliero was headed home by Marc Strzyzewski.
The game continued to be spoiled by the constant whistle of referee James Bateman making it a constant stop-go match but Gresley went close to doubling their advantage but Hanson's free kick from just outside the area went wide of the post.
United drew level with three minutes of the first half remaining. A dubious free kick on the right by Brooks was fired low into a crowded box and into the net.
The second half continued with the stop-start preventing any flowing football and the physical attention given to the Gresley players. It was from some of that attention which got Rowe dismissed to the stand as he reacted to an apparent punch at Nyatito which amazingly only saw the defender receive a yellow card from the lenient Mr Bateman.
Again Gresley went close to retaking the lead early in the second half when Eric Graves slipped the ball through to Rob Spencer whose shot was inches the wrong side of the far post.
Arguably the turning point of the game came on 57 minutes when a rash tackle on Brooks resulted in a harsh red card for Guy.
Although Gresley were down to ten men they continued to press forward and Nyatito's superb goal bound header was touched over for a corner.
Gresley's day went from bad to worse when United grabbed the winner when substitute Sean Cann was allowed far too much time and space to strike his shot across Morch and into the far corner of the net.
Despite the visitors continuing to press forward they just couldn't find breakthrough to snatch a share of the points.
Manager's View
"I think the man in black has let us down today. The referee is supposed to encourage a game of football and not a boxing game. I thought Lincoln were very physical and they got away with it. The referee was too soft all through the game.
"What summed it up for me in the second half was when Zibusiso Nyatito was getting punched in the face and the referee was doing nothing about it. I complained and got sent off and then he pulled the player over and only gave him a yellow card and it's just disgusting. They were aggressive all throughout the game but the referee gave us nothing at all today.
"The free kick which led to their first goal shouldn't have happened. Then the referee went and booked Eric Graves who didn't commit the foul which was even more disappointing. John Guy was disappointed because he knows he should have dealt with that better putting the ball out of the ground. He tried to keep it in play which he shouldn't have done with five minutes to go and we conceded from it.
"Second half we showed a lot of character and kept going although still getting the physical abuse - the players did well.
"Then, unfortunately, John Guy pushed the ball a bit too far but he hasn't gone in intentionally with his feet up , his studs weren't even showing but they've screamed around the referee and he's reacted instead of stepping back and thinking about it.
"But, ten men in the second half i think we've done really well and I think it was just legs which caught us out. The players showed a lot of character today and I think that's good to see because a lot of teams with the physical abuse they were getting may have disappeared but our lot stuck at it.
"For their second goal their lad had only just come on with a fresh pair of legs and I think we were just a bit too tired in the end. That's what happens when you've got just ten men on the park giving their all for Gresley. I thought today the supporters were great particularly in the second half. They stuck by us kept cheering us on and that was great to see.
"The new lad did well. The reserve team management told us that he was playing well for them and that's why we've got a reserve side. He came on today with no fear and got stuck in and some of the abuse he had some players would have disappeared but he's come out and done really well. He looked the most likely to score for us but it's always hard when you have ten men playing away particularly here but we've got to get on with it as we've got a home game next.
"Royce Turville has just returned and they glued his cut head and he's a bit dazed. That was a really nasty one as well because he didn't really bend his head down at all and their lad has gone in with his studs straight across his face. We nearly scored as Mitch Hanson was just inches away.
"Kieran O'Connell has got an Achilles problem at the moment he may be fit for next week. Jack Langston will be fifty-fifty. Obviously where the bruise is, it's a bit tender on the top of his foot. We'll be training on Wednesday and we'll see how they are. Unfortunately, Danny Holmes has been unavailable and we'll have to check where he is next week due to his Derby County commitments."
