Match Photos
Gresley Rovers vs Alfreton Town
Finely balanced
Gresley
Rovers go to the Town Ground with the tie finely balanced thanks to a Chris
White double.
In front of the new Gresley manager, Jon Newsome, they got off to slow start
looking a little tentative which allowed the visitors to make the early running.
However, on 20 minutes Gresley thought they had taken the lead. White fired
into the net but his effort was ruled out for off side. According to the assistant
referee if the ball hadn't deflected off Andy Bourne on the way in he would
not have flagged, much to the bewilderment of Alan Titterton.
On 27 minutes Chris Parkins had a chance to open the scoring but fired straight
at the visitors' keeper Ross Turner.
Turner was needed again 3 minutes later this time to save a White shot with
his legs.
Alfreton were pressing forward and shocked the home fans by taking an unexpected
lead on 33 minutes. Chris Dolby took a corner which James Lindley punched clear
only for the ball to drop nicely for Steve Johnson on the edge of the area.
Johnson was not closed down and had time to pick his spot and hammer the ball
through a crowd of players and into the net.
Andy Cheetham tested his own keeper Lindley when he misheaded the ball toward
his own goal. However, Lindley pulled off a smart save to push the ball round
the post much to the obvious relief of his defender.
Gresley continued to push for the equaliser and with only 4 minutes of the
half remaining it came.
Aidan Callan took Gresley's first corner of the game and his flighted ball
was flicked on by Owen James to White whose looping header beat both keeper
and defender Steve Circuit.
At
the start of the second half Gresley came out looking more positive and determined.
Maybe this was as a result of the half time talk by new manager Newsome who
now took his position along side Titterton by the dug out.
Alfreton, too, to their credit were still pushing forward and this pressure
caused an early mistake in the Gresley defence. James trying to clear a Circuit
cross, forced Lindley into making another fine save.
On 51 minutes Alfreton were back in front. A Circuit corner from the left found
the head of Darren Brookes as he leapt unchallenged to score the simplest of
set piece goals.
It was now the visitors who looked the more dangerous with Mick Godber's fiercely
struck low drive being well held by Lindley.
On 67 minutes Dolby was unlucky when home defender Ian Bluck deflected his certain
goal out for a corner.
This lucky break seemed to shake Gresley up and on 68 minutes they were back
on terms.
After some good work between Gray and Bourne the resulting cross by Gray found
White in space unmarked. The young striker neatly controlled the ball and rammed
the ball past Turner and into the net despite calls for off side that were rightly
dismissed by both referee and his assistant.
White almost topped off a good evening for both him and his club when he almost
got his hat trick but his long range shot flew narrowly wide of the upright.
The match looked as if there were still some twists and turns left in the game
and Alfreton came within a whisker of snatching the lead for the third time.
This time it was skipper for the night Richard Wardle who came to Gresley's
rescue when he bravely blocked a fierce drive by Dolby for a corner.
On 70 minutes Mat Moran replaced Simon Tucker and the youngster could have
made an immediate impact on the game when he struck a 25 yard shot which just
cleared the bar.
With around 10 minutes remaining Parkins could have given Gresley a slender
lead but after making a fine run through on goal he could only fire straight
at Turner.
White again had chance to complete his hat trick but saw his shot skim the
bar in added time.
The
game was somewhat spoilt with the sending off of Alfreton's Circuit seconds
before the end of the game for kicking out at Gray.
Both sides had fielded weakened sides due to injuries and on reflection a draw
was perhaps the right result.
This season, Gresley have played their best football away from the Moat Ground
and so the 2nd leg is set up to be an entertaining affair.
The manager's view of the match
Alan Titterton
"I thought we were unlucky with the goal that was given as offside. The
assistant referee said that if it hadn't had hit Andy Bourne, who he said was
in an offside position, on the way in he wouldn't have flagged for offside.
Which I think is double-dutch.
"We again gave away a silly goal. We did not have anyone on the edge of
the box closing the lad down and he could pick his spot and we were 1-0 down.
"I thought James Lindley in goal had a good game. He made some good saves
and I thought overall he had a good game.
"At half time our new manager Jon Newsome came into the dressing room
and spoke to the lads. He told them to close Alfreton down at bit more and to
hustle and bustle them and the lads listened to him.
"In the second half I thought we looked pretty good but we gave away a
soft goal. It came to the near post and we didn't have anyone in front of it.
They flicked it back and they scored.
"The two goals Chris White got were very good. Owen James, who I thought
had a reasonable game again tonight, made one of them with a header.
"Chris Gray was lively but unfortunately got booked. That makes it about
14 bookings this season. He was causing them some problems and in the end one
of them had a kick at him and got sent off.
"It's still all to play for. We must remember that Alfreton are a good
side. They are top of their League and their manager has done a good job this
season. They have some big lads upfront and are very good at set pieces. They
know exactly where the ball is going and that's all credit to their manager.
"Listening to our new manager in the dressing room he seems very good
with the players and they appreciated what he said to them. Jon's been in the
game and he could see what they were doing wrong and he told them and I thought
we battled hard in the second half and we got two very good goals by Chris White."
Jon Newsome's remarks on the game.
"I don't think we started the game like it was a cup final to be honest.
Whether that was because of my presence here. Maybe they were a little bit anxious.
"In the first half we created the better chances and if we believed in
ourselves a bit more we could have come in a couple of goals up.
"All I said to them at half time was 'just believe in yourselves. You're
playing in a cup final. You've got nothing to lose. Go and trust yourselves.
With a bit more enthusiasm and a bit more eagerness try and take the game to
them.'
"I felt we started the second half a bit tentative. The biggest kick-start
for me was them scoring a goal. Once they'd scored we rolled our sleeves up
and thought we haven't got anything to lose. It's a cup final let's give it
a go. And I thought the last half hour the lads did exceptionally well.
"We had them penned in and I was very pleased with lads and I think they
can be pleased with their performance. They were playing a very good team who
are top of their league and have been in cup finals and are full of confidence.
They looked full of confidence so we ought to take a lot of heart from that
display.
"You don't have to be a centre half to see that we had problems in the
way we let them score. Yes there were individual errors but who hasn't made
them at some time.
"We were playing three at the back so that puts a bit of doubt in the
players minds because it's not something they are used to. They are not comfortable
playing it all the time. But, because of certain factors, that's the way we
had to go tonight.
"I can watch any game and pick out errors. If you put a video of me playing
I could pick out more than most!
"I like to look and see the positive things. Yes, they know they've made
mistakes but name me a footballer that hasn't made mistakes.
"There was a lot more positives that came out of that than negatives.
It'll make the opposition think a bit. I don't think Alfreton will go into the
2nd leg as confident as what they entered this leg"
Alan Titterton remarks on Saturday
"Dave Whittaker has said he will be fit. We are also hoping Chris Parkins
can get of work but he should be on call.
"I spoke to Stuart Evans on Tuesday night and he indicated he could play.
However, his little boy has Chickenpox and Stuart has felt a little unwell himself
and thought he might be coming down with it. But if it isn't Chickenpox then
he should be all right to play.
"I can't see Barry Woolley playing again this season unless he recovers
quickly. He can still feel his injury. Ian Bluck will be out for three games
after Saturday so he will miss the 2nd leg of the Cup Final. Mark Peters should
be ready in another week
"I think the players who played tonight had a reasonable game."
Gresley Rovers (1) 2
Alfreton Town (1) 2
Scorers: White 41, 68 (Gresley Rovers); Johnson 33, Brookes 51 (Alfreton
Town).
Gresley Rovers: Lindley, Bluck, Cheetham, Wardle, James, Callan, Bourne,
Tucker (Moran 69), White, Parkins, Gray. Suns not used: Lewsley, Withers.
Alfreton Town: Turner, Circuit, Elam, Brookes, Hobson, Schofield, Thorpe
(France 83), Johnson, Godber (Marks 83), Askey, Dolby. Sub not used: Hindley.
Rovers
Star Man: Chris White - scored two could have had four.
Referee: P Carter (Ilkeston).
Attendance: 330
