Cinderford Town vs Gresley Rovers
Rovers hit five!
John McGinlay was forced to make some defensive changes as his usual centre
back pairing of Stuart Evans and Barry Woolley withdrew because of injury. Ian
Bluck and Andy Cheetham were called into the centre of the defence with Lee
Withers and Richard Wardle at right and left back respectively.
McGinlay must have wondered about this new look back line as Cinderford breached
it after just two minutes. Jason Donovan's neat flick on to Daryl Addis on the
right wing was used to perfection when Addis sent over a ball, which Simon Truman,
unmarked on the back post, put past James Lindley.
Simon Tucker, making his first start in 6 games nearly snatched an equaliser
but put his shot wide.
On 28 minutes Gresley were unlucky not to be level when Aidan Callan's cross
was smashed from close range by Dave Whittaker only to see it blocked by the
Cinderford keeper.
Tucker put the visitor's level on 33 minutes. A corner by Callan's created
mayhem in the home defence and Tucker took full advantage to stab the ball home
and score his first goal since returning to Gresley.
Cinderford regained the lead in only two minutes when Gresley gave away a free
kick just outside the box. Tony Hopkins' kick found Addis who glanced the ball
into the top corner.
On 40 minutes Andy Bourne set off on a fine run which ended with a shot that
Andy Fisher couldn't hold on to. Whittaker tried to get a touch on the ball
but Leigh Hall managed to scramble a clearance.
Almost on the stroke of half time Gresley got the equaliser. Whittaker broke
into the home penalty area and was scythed down by Tommy Callinan. The referee
did not hesitate and duly awarded Gresley a penalty booking Callinan for the
foul.
Whittaker decided to take the spot kick himself and fired in his second goal
for the club.
Just as it seemed the whistle was to blow Gresley allowed Cinderford to take
the advantage again. A long up and under out of the home defence caught Gresley
still probably celebrating their goal, and Raith Plant latched on to it and
beat Lindley with his first time shot.
Referee Patrick Keane was the only change for the second half when his assistant
Richard Janssens due to an injury replaced him.
Gresley came out of the blocks with all guns firing determined to pull level
again. Tucker coming close from a Chris Gray cross within a few minutes of the
second half.
On 57 minutes the goal Gresley had been looking for came. A superb ball by
Bluck found Callan who easily rounded his marker and left Fisher grasping at
fresh air as he smashed in a low shot.
The home side was now beginning to lose control of the match and Gresley sensed
it. They began to press for more goals putting the Cinderford defence under
almost constant pressure with both Bourne and Tucker going close.
However, on 70 minutes Gresley got their deserved lead when Tucker played a
superb flowing one-two with Bourne and hit a fierce shot which Fisher could
only palm away to the waiting Gray who gratefully tapped in Gresley's fourth
goal.
Gray could have had another within five minutes when his shot struck the bar.
Lindley was called on to make a fine save from Chris Bale after a period of
inactivity due to no Cinderford attempts on his goal.
On 80 minutes McGinlay withdrew Tucker and brought on Chris White. He had only
been on the park for around five minutes when he struck home his fourth goal
in eight appearances.
Gray played a ball through to Steve Coates and he raced through the defence
to the bye-line and crossed to White who hit a superb shot on the turn past
the helpless Fisher.
Compared to the last encounter between the sides, which was a dour 0-0 draw,
this was a thrilling end-to-end game with eight goals with, thankfully, five
of them for Gresley.
Gresley had showed character in the way they had come back from behind three
times during the match to finally go on and take all three points.
The manager's view of the match
"There is no way you could have described tonight's game as dour. I didn't
think we would see eight goals here because Cinderford do not concede many.
"Our biggest worry was going into the game with a patched up back four.
It showed when we let in two silly goals in the first half.
"We got ourselves back into the game and just before half time I shouted
to the players to kill the game off until the break. But they let them go down
the other end and score.
"The way we played in the second half was the best we've played for a
long time and to come here and score five goals is very pleasing. The players
showed tremendous desire to come from behind three times and then go on and
win it."
Cinderford Town (3) 3
Gresley Rovers (2) 5
Scorers: Truman 2, Addis 35, Plant 45(Cinderford Town); Tucker 33, Whittaker
(pen) 43, Callan 57, Gray 71, White 85 (Gresley Rovers).
Cinderford Town: Fisher, Callinan (Pitcairn 61), Hopkins, Hoskins, Hall,
Bale, Truman, Donovan (Weyman 80), Plant, Addis, Harris. Sub not used: Tomkins.
Gresley Rovers: Lindley, Bluck, Cheetham, Coates, Withers, Wardle, Bourne,
Callan, Whittaker, Tucker (White 80), Gray (Peters 87). Sub not used: McGinlay.
Rovers
Star Man: Richard Wardle - Captain Fantastic.
Referee: P Keane (Bilston), R Janssens (Bromsgrove).
Attendance: 118
