Evo-Stik NPL Division One South
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 9th November 2013, 3.00pm
Gresley Share The Points
This was not the best of games on a wet and testing surface as both sides found it hard to come to terms with conditions with clear-cut chances at a premium. A goal from Blair Anderson on the hour mark put the Millers in the driving seat but with just five minutes remaining Kieran O'Connell scored the equaliser and a deserved share of the points.
Gresley manager Martin Rowe was forced into two changes to the side that won in midweek at Sutton Coldfield. Lucas Harrison was suspended for accumulating five yellow cards and keeper Ross Etheridge was out due to a knee injury.
Young keeper Alex Townsend was brought in and John Guy moved over to right back with Liam Guest alongside Jamie Barret at the heart of defence. New signing Alex Steadman took a place on the bench.
It was a cagey start to the game as both sides tried to come to terms with the surface and it was the Millers who had the first half chance as Dan Elliott fire wide. A free kick from Gresley's Mitch Hanson went narrowly wide of the upright and O'Connell fired in a low shot which was comfortable for visiting keeper Curtis McDonald. Although both sides were working hard they found it hard to make the vital breakthrough.
The second half started as the first had finished although Guy went close hitting a thunderous shot just wide of the mark.
Neither keeper had, had a save to make but Townsend needed to be very alert as a flicked header from Jordan Villums looked to be heading to the bottom far corner of the net until the young keeper pulled out a fine save to deny the goal.
It was unfortunate that the first goal of the game came from a slip. Hanson seemed to get the ball stuck under his feet and Anderson took advantage and raced towards the goal. Townsend came rushing out of his goal mouth to close the chance down but Anderson kept his composure and rounded the keeper before slipping the ball into the empty net.
To Gresley's credit they didn't let the setback knock their confidence and O'Connell showed dogged persistence down the right and managed to get a cross into the area and debutant Steadman forced McDonald into his first save of note tipping the effort over the bar.
Gresley were still working hard and it showed has Steadman charged down an attempted clearance in the Millers' area. The ball bounced out to Eric Graves who hit a thunderous shot fractionally wide of the post.
The home side's hard work paid dividends with just five minutes remaining. Substitute Mickey Lyons put the perfect ball through dissecting the Millers' back line and O'Connell ran onto it without breaking stride before slotting the ball past McDonald. It was no more than Gresley deserved and a share of the points was probably a fair reflection of the game.
Manager's View
"Carlton are a very organised team you can see why they are fourth in the league. They give nothing away, work hard as a team they battle in all areas and to be fair we were a bit disappointing today. There were too many touches and we didn't move the ball quick enough but we stuck at it.
"We made changes towards the end of the game which got us back into it and in the end we could have won it. Eric Graves hit one from the edge of the box and Kieran O'Connell had another chance towards the end when he hit first time when maybe he could have got it down and scored but it was a fair result.
"We've just said in the changing rooms that at the beginning of the season we would have lost that game. We've not got that attitude and belief that we can always win games and always come back from games. It's a bit like when we were in the Midland Alliance if we went one down we always knew we'd come back and we've got that in this team now.
The lads are disappointed that we've drawn against the fourth in the league. They wanted three points but we didn't quite do enough today.
"Regarding Monday's Doodson Cup game, we'll be putting our strongest team out. There are a few players who have been carrying injuries over a few weeks so we'll assess them over the weekend and it may give an opportunity to other players in the squad. It's a game we want to win and progress into the next round.
"Marc Strzyzewski will definitely get a run on Monday. He's okay now and he's been training. He needs match practice and Monday will be ideal for him. Sam Grice has had quite a bit of pitch time. He's only been out recently but he might get a game but we'll assess it over the weekend and decide what team to put out.
"Looking forward to the FA Trophy I cannot believe that Sheffield and Buxton are not playing today. I can't understand it because the Trophy should take precedence. That game should have been played today. Who knows where we'll be next weekend and if the game will be on because the Sheffield pitch isn't the best at the moment and we only have to have a bit of rain and the game is called off.
"If Sheffield win they want to play it next Friday evening as that was the league agreement but with our win against Trafford we are now geared up for a Saturday game and not a Friday. We don't want to switch we want to play it on a Saturday."
