Evo-Stik Division One South
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 27th September 2014, 3.00pm
Gresley Dig Deep To Beat The Wrens
Gresley kept their fine form at the Moat Ground with a gutsy win against a robust Rainworth side coming from behind with goals from Alex Steadman, O'Connell (2) and Brad Wells.
Changes were made to the starting line-up with Wayne Thornhill bringing in former Derby County keeper Ross Atkins for his debut. Steadman was given a start as Thornhill also had to shuffle his side with defender and captain Jamie Barrett on the bench suffering from a slight calf injury.
Gresley started brightly with Martin Smyth forcing a block at the near post but Rainworth went close themselves as Eric Graves had to head Daniel Williams' free kick off the line.
Jack Langston was unlucky when he capitalised on a quickly taken free kick to flat foot the defence but his shot narrowly passed the wrong side of the far post.
Gresley opened the scoring after some good work by Graves down the left who then sent over a cross to the far post which was met by the head of Steadman beating keeper Liam Roberts.
The home side twice went close to adding to their tally minutes later. The first was when Luke Edwards raced down the left and slipped a shot towards goal which Roberts got the faintest of touches to steering the ball past the far post for a corner kick. Steadman then had his header cleared off the line by Kieran Coupe.
Rainworth levelled the game with their first shot on target. Grant Ryan made a run down the right and with no team mates in the area tried his luck with a shot which flashed past Atkins and into the top far corner.
Gresley went close once more. This time Lucas Harrison sent Edwards forwards but again Roberts denied him a goal finger tipping the ball away for a corner.
Roberts was possibly having the game of his life as Gresley made chance after chance but the goal keeper kept them out. O'Connell worked hard to keep the ball before hitting a stinging shot which the keeper blocked and then O'Connell's cross was headed goalwards by Edwards but Roberts tipped the effort over the bar.
Mitch Hanson powered a header which Roberts did well to hold onto and Edwards was denied as his shot at the near post was blocked by the legs of the goal keeper.
With only the second attempt on target Rainworth took the lead. A slip by Matt Roome just inside the centre of the area allowed Alex Ford to fire an unstoppable shot through a crowed box and into the net.
As the first half drew to an end Gresley's nemesis Roberts again denied them with Graves the frustrated one this time as his shot was blocked at the near post.
Roberts continued to frustrate the home site with the hardworking Edwards prevented from claiming a goal his performance deserved as his early second half effort was blocked at the near post.
The goal Gresley had been working hard for eventually came and Edwards was involved. He dashed into the box and then cleverly back heeled the ball for O'Connell to hammer into the net. Edwards once more assisted in a goal when he flicked a header into the path of Wells who smashed a shot home at the near post.
Edwards was continuing to be a thorn in Rainworth's side and another of his passes almost led to goal number four but Wells could only put his header over the far post.
Langston then fired wide as Gresley looked to finish the game off. The goal that did so came when Wells made a good run forward and hit a shot into the box which O'Connell got a foot to at the near post to steer it into the net.
What would have been the cherry on the cake for Gresley came deep into time added on. Awarded a free kick 20 yards out Harrison hit a sweetly struck curling shot that cleared the wall but crashed off the junction of bar and post with Roberts stationary.
Gresley were made to work hard for their three points in the end but the stats spell out how they dominated the game creating chances which, if converted, would have led to a Brigg type total.
Manager's View
"We do try to make things difficult for ourselves. I've just said to the players in the dressing room that I wanted to praise their character and determination to come back from a goal behind. That is never easy whether home or away.
"It was pleasing to do it in front of our own fans which is always good. Rainworth scored with their only two shots on target. We created loads of chances and made it hard work. If we could take our chances we'd go through games a little easier than we make them.
"In the first half the visiting keeper was excellent. He pulled of five or six very good saves from the good positions we got into. But, you have to work with that. They are going to try and keep us out as much as they can. Second half they defended and basically sat on the edge of the eighteen yard box to try and keep what they'd got.
"It took us a little while to break then down but when we did I actually fancied us to win it especially when we got the equaliser.
"Luke Edwards was possibly our best player today. He is improving game after game. He works hard and works fantastically for the team. Unfortunately he didn't get on the score sheet today but he got in some great positions and their keeper made some great saves. It's just unfortunate that he didn't hit the back of the net. I'd probably say that Luke would have a bad game and a goal would come off his toe or something. I can't ask any more from him he's worked ever so hard for us since he's been at the club.
"I used my contacts to try and bring some players in and Ross Atkins is the first one. Alex Townsend has done exceptionally well but we felt as a squad and a club that we needed a little bit more experience particularly at the back. Alex is a great keeper and he'll push on again.
"It was good to see Jamie Barrett back, he sees the game from a different point of view which is good. He pointed out a few things that I couldn't see while I was trying to sort the team tactically. It's always good to have another voice alongside you.
"Mitch Hanson isn't available for Monday's game at Romulus. Hence, why I had to rest Jamie because of our centre half dilemma at the minute. We haven't got too many fit centre halves. Matt Roome has filled in again and done excellent alongside Mitch. Mitch won't be there on Monday so I had to keep a fit Jamie and he'll play centre half with Matt Roome.
"Kyriakos Themistokleous has looked reasonably sharp in training; he has good feet and certainly knows his passes. He has a good touch. Unfortunately, since getting his international clearance I haven't managed to get him on the pitch for various reasons because of the game context.
"I sent him with the reserves today to get ninety minutes. I've not got any feedback yet but I will do. He'll be involved on Monday. Rob Ritchie-Smith has just come back from injury and he asked if he could go out on loan to Rocester which is level five. I had a chat with the chairman and we both agreed that he could go and get some ninety minutes in and I'm waiting to have some fee back and we'll see where we go with him."
