Evo-Stik NPL Division One South
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 26th April 2014, 3.00pm
Gresley Sign Off With A Win
Gresley signed their league programme off with a win at the Moat Ground but they were made to work hard for the three points after having to come back from a goal down.
Rob Spencer's two goals in as many minutes ensured Gresley finished at their highest position, ninth, since they formed in 2009, two positions better than last season.
Manager Martin Rowe was forced into one change from the side who beat Coalville earlier in the week with Mitch Hanson coming back into the right back slot replacing Matt Roome who had returned to University to complete his studies.
After a slow start Gresley had two very good chances to have taken the lead. After racing through, Kieran O'Connell skipped around the advancing Town keeper Chris Stanley but took the ball slightly too wide giving Stanley the chance of blocking the first effort. The ball came back to O'Connell but his second attempt hit the side netting.
With arguably Brigg's first meaningful attempt on goal they took the lead. Paul Ashton hit a vicious shot which Mats Morch managed to push away for a corner. The corner from the left taken by Kieran McCaffrey and the ball seemed to swerve as it flew into the box with Morch failing to grab it leaving Jamie Coulson the simple task of heading in at the far post.
The lead lasted just four minutes as Gresley hit back with vengeance. Serge Makofo lifted a cross from the left over to the far post and Eric Graves nodded the ball back into the middle for Spencer to head home.
Gresley recovered the ball quickly from the re-start and a superb long diagonal ball from Hanson picked out O'Connell wide on the left. It looked as if O'Connell had lost control of the ball but he did well to pick out Spencer who slammed the ball across Stanley and into the far corner of the goal.
Both sides had a chance to add to their tally as the half drew to a close. Brigg's William Peers hit a tremendous shot with Morch managed to push onto the far post and the ball flew very kindly in to the grateful keeper's arms. Gresley's Hanson then got his head to Piliero's corner but the effort went straight at Stanley.
Hanson went close to increasing the home score early in the second half. A corner from the right came deep to Spencer who headed the ball back towards the far post and Hanson was inches from scoring but poked the ball just wide.
The moment every Gresley supporter was waiting for came on 67 minutes when Moat Ground favourite Royce Turville entered the game for the last time in a Gresley shirt as he hangs up his boots after the match. There was a great touch from Gresley's captain Jamie Barrett who handed Turville his captain's arm band.
Turville, as usual, was soon involved giving the visiting defence problems when he lifted the ball to Spencer in the area who in turn headed it on to Graves who planted his header wide of the far post.
Gresley's John Guy put a header over the bar late on before Graves blazed Mickey Lyons' corner from the left also over the bar.
Manager's View
"I think Monday took a lot out of us but we've won the game and that's what we planned to do and I think it was a good day all round. The Community Day went very well with quite a few here. It was nice to see the next generation coming through and it was a good day for Royce Turville as well. The crowd got behind him and gave him a real nice response. He's the first legend of Gresley FC.
"The loudest applause was for Royce and Rob Spencer. They are both hard working players and they give their all for Gresley and that's what the crowd likes to see. They are big favourites here at Gresley.
"The Dingle Dash for Dingle Dollars was between Matt Dingley and Jack Langston and we hope it gets bigger and bigger. I did ask some of the supporters to run in the race but I think they were a bit afraid of Matt because you know how fit Matt is these days.
"I think when we first started with the disastrous result against Mickleover and the internet going ballistic trying to get me out and they were difficult times for us but me, Wayne and Richard believed in the players and I think the fans have as well. We've turned it around and obviously we want to push on next year.
"The support has been fantastic all season with an average gate of two hundred and seventy plus and you can't knock it. I think we've got some of the best supporters in Derbyshire.
"Jack Langston realised he made a mistake and wished he's never have left and he will be back with us next season. I've spoken to all the players and I'm just waiting for one more but they've all agreed they will stay next season. Sometimes they say that and other things happen and they may get better offers. The atmosphere in the dressing room is very good and we are very positive about next year.
"One of our problems this season has been our away form, it hasn't been good enough. But, when you look at the positives the FA Cup run, the FA Trophy run was absolutely brilliant and we've beaten quite a lot of big clubs this season, like Trafford, Grantham and Ilkeston and we can do it it's just about being consistent and that's what we'll be aiming for next year.
"The Halesowen away was a bit of a downer on our season but we never looked back after that game. Sometimes you need a bit of a kick up the backside to get you going. Last Saturday against Scarborough we were poor and the lads knew that and the lads reacted by beating Coalville on Monday which was an excellent game it's just a shame we couldn't reach the same performance today."
