Evo-Stik NPL Division One South
Bill Stokeld Stadium, Stoke Lane, Gedling
Saturday, 15th March 2014, 3.00pm
Millers Grind Out The Points
For the umpteenth time this season Gresley let a lead go and ended up losing a game as they failed once more to hang onto their first half lead in a proverbial game of two halves . Paolo Piliero had given the visitors the lead as the shaded the half but two second half goals from Aaron Hooton and Sam MacVicar handed the Millers all three points keeping an unwanted run of away game league defeats now stretching to nine consecutive league games.
Gresley were short of six first team players with Mitch Hanson, Jack Langston, Kieran O'Connell , Mickey Lyons, John Guy and Rob Spencer all missing due to numerous reasons, suspension, injury, illness and unavailability so manager Martin Rowe had to make several changes.
Zibusiso Nyatito was handed his first start and there was a debut for new signing Bradley Wells. Dean Withers, who had been an unused substitute for the previous three games was also given a start.
Playing with a very stiff breeze at their backs and on a very uneven surface Gresley made a steady start but both sides were finding it difficult to come to terms with the conditions.
Mats Morch was the first of the two keepers to be called into action making a good save to his left to hold a flicked header from Alex Troke's free kick.
On 28 minutes Gresley took the lead when Piliero hit a spectacular dipping half volley from 22 yards over the head of the stranded John Viscosi and into the net.
Gresley were unlucky not to have doubled their lead just before the interval when Nyatito ran onto Alex Steadman's through ball but the advancing Viscosi did well to get a hand to the ball denying the striker a goal.
The second half belonged to the home side as they dominated with Gresley not creating one chance. Indeed it was Carlton who were having the best of the play.
Bradley Munn went close with a long-range effort that whistled just wide of an upright and a couple of minutes later they were level. Liam Guest's challenge on Aaron Hooton was adjudged to have been just inside the area and referee Mr Khan pointed to the spot the third penalty Gresley have conceded in as many games.
Hooton chose to take the spot kick himself and scored despite Morch guessing correctly and getting a hand to the ball as he dived low to his right.
That goal seemed to spur Carlton on and they began to press Gresley back into their own half benefitting from the visitors giving needless free kicks away in dangerous areas and also conceding several corner kicks.
The goal that looked almost certain to arrive for the home side duly turned up with just 7 minutes remaining. A corner from the right by Billy Bennett eventually came out to Hooton as Gresley failed to clear the danger. The striker struck a superb shot which cannoned back of the bar and with the Gresley defence failing to react substitute Sam MacVicar smashed the ball into the roof of the net from close in at the far post.
Manager's View
"We did alright in the first half. We battled well on a difficult pitch but in the second half we did not ask enough questions of Carlton.
"I thought it was a very dodgy penalty. The lad was going away from goal and Liam Guest put his body there and the only person on the pitch, the referee, thought it was a penalty. Carlton then hit a good shot from distance and hit the bar and we've not reacted quickly enough.
"We could not get into the game in the second half. Carlton kept putting the ball in dangerous places and we weren't holding the ball up enough up front and we couldn't get any pattern of play.
"We had quite a few players out today but that's no excuse. The team is still good enough and we proved that in the first half coming in at one-nil. But, we lacked that bit of desire in the second half to go on and win the game.
"I didn't want us to hold onto the game, I wanted us to take the game to them but they turned it round a bit and when they brought the big lad on upfront we were always struggling.
"Dean Withers came in for his first game today and Zibususo Nyatito was given a start. They are going to struggle to get into the pace of the game and we'd got to give them a chance one day and today we gave them that opportunity but we lacked that bit of experience if I'm honest.
"We brought Brad Wells into the club. He can play either upfront or wide left and he showed when he came on that he has that bit of desire to make things happen and that's what he tried to do when he came on.
"We are still trying to bring in another player. He has to have international clearance but that's doubtful as the clock is ticking to the signing deadline. If we get it done in time it would be a miracle.
"We play Sheffield on Tuesday. We've done well against them this year and let's hope we put things right when we go up there. The lads are obviously disappointed today and they are furious with the referee yet again but we've got to blame ourselves. We need to look at each other and the way we set up.
"Hopefully, Sheffield's pitch will be better and we'll have a few more players back. Rob Spencer should be back and Mickey Lyons. Jack Langston and Kieran O'Connell will not however. That's two of our experienced players who we could have done with today."
