Match Photos
Gresley Rovers vs Nottingham Forest
For the first half of this Bass Charity Vase game against holders Nottingham Forest Gresley Rovers looked totally in charge, solid and dangerous.
Manager Jon Newsome brought in another couple of trialists, defender Adam Quinn and striker Adam Muller and gave a further run out to Neil Kitching, Craig Hopkins Gary White and Jamie Barrett.
Forest fielded a strong team including six players who have had first team experience and two trialists hoping to make an impression on the Forest management.
But it was Gresley who made the better chances of the match and right from the off put the visitors under pressure.
On 11 minutes Neil Kitching swung in a dangerous cross, which Tony Vaughan narrowly headed over his own bar.
A minute later a rare attacking move by Forest tested James Lindley who tipped a fierce drive from Craig Westcarr out for a corner.
One of the new boy’s in Gresley’s side, Muller, had a glorious chance to open the scoring when he picked up a flick from Danny Hobby and cracked a volley that Pascal Formann did well to keep hold.
On 30 minutes Muller again had a chance after some good work by the Gresley trio of Kitching, Wardle and Hopkins. He received a superb through ball but as Formann advanced the striker’s shot rose high over the Forest bar.
As he did against Stockport Newsome made some half time changes bringing on Andy Bourne, Chris Parkins and Barrett.
At the beginning of the half Forest looked more like business and on 48 minutes Craig Westcarr was unlucky when his shot crashed off the post into the path of Mikeal Currier who could only fire his shot over the bar when well placed.
Forest were now exerting the pressure and on 59 minutes Jorge Jimenez sent in a right wing cross which Carlos Mota met with a diving header that went narrowly wide of the post.
A minute later Forest took the lead. Currier, looking suspiciously a yard offside, found himself unattended in the Gresley box and as the home defenders pleaded with the referee and his assistant for an offside flag he beat the advancing Lindley with a shot that scuffed the post and into the net.
On 62 minutes Newsome replaced Callan with Chris Gray in the hope of adding some width to the game.
It was from a Gray corner that White controlled well but his shot lacked any sort of power to trouble Formann.
As the game began to run away from Gresley a good spell of pressure resulted in Bourne cracking a volley just over the bar and a shot agonisingly past an upright.
As the final whistle blew many of the home fans felt that a draw would have been a just result. And, although Forest put the pressure on in the second half, at no time in the match was Gresley out played or out classed and should feel pleased with very creditable performance against a strong opposition.
The manager's view
"I thought it was a big improvement on last week's game against Stockport. In the first half I though we did exceptionally well, we had a great game.
"In the second half we struggled a little bit because we couldn't get to grips with how they were playing and we made a few changes in personnel.
"We were much more solid at the back tonight and when big Quinny came in he looked solid and he used the ball well. The hardest job is convincing players like that to come to Gresley because a lot of these triallist's have other offers. As well as us having a look at them they want to have a look at us so decisions have yet to be made either way.
I'm looking at possibly bringing in a few more triallists for the game on Friday.
"To be honest we should have got something out of the game tonight and I'm disappointed we got beat.
Regards the goal the lads told me the Forest lad was yards offside but there you go."
Gresley Rovers (0) 0
Nottingham Forest (0) 1
Scorer: Curier 60.
Gresley Rovers: Lindley, Wardle, G White, James, Quinn, Cheetham, Hobby (Bourne 45), Callan (Gray 62), Hopkins (Barrett 45), Muller, Kitching (Parkins 45). Sub not used: Roberts.
Nottingham Forest: Formann, Thompson, Doig, Groves, Edwards (Todd 45), Vaughan (Tynan 45), Jimenez, Haskins, Westcarr, Curier, Mota. Subs not used: Biggins, Robertson, Bodkin.
Referee: A Penn (Birmingham).
Attendance: 450
