Match Photos
Gresley Rovers vs Guiseley
Gresley hit seven!
Jon Newsome made some changes again to his line-up for this game against Guiseley.
Andy Cheetham was back in the centre of defence to partner Ian Bluck. Gary White was again at left back and a new face former Grimsby Town full-back Gary Moran on the bench.
Gresley started brightly with Chris Gray tormenting the Guiseley back line almost from the off. His speed was leaving them flatfooted and bewildered.
Guiseley, who had struggled to get a side together for the match were soon undone.
On 2 minutes the impressive White put Gray through in space and he flew past the lead footed defence and cut a good ball back for Gary Smith. Smith's shot was blocked by the visiting keeper John Lamb but Neil Kitching was on hand to bundle the ball over the line.
Kitching was again involved on 12 minutes when he headed on Gray's centre for Smith but unfortunately his shot went just wide of the upright.
On 15 minutes the visitors mad their first telling attacking move and they came close to an equaliser. Striker James Elliott left Bluck in his wake as he raced past the Gresley defender and hit a vicious dipping shot that caused James Lindley to make probably his only shot of the match. Diving backwards he superbly tipped the ball onto the bar and caught the ball at the second attempt.
Ten minutes later Gresley doubled the lead and it was Kitching who provided the finish again. White, playing his best game yet in a Gresley shirt, put a pass all of 40 yards to Gray who sent in a low shot which Kitching got a touch to bundling it over the line in similar fashion to his first.
Gray also was having a great game as the defenders afforded him acres of space to use his scorching speed. And he almost scored himself but for a stunning save from Lamb. Gray sped towards the Guiseley goal, turned and curled a shot that looked every bit a goal but somehow Lamb got a hand to it and away for a corner.
Right on half time a rare Guiseley attack resulted in the ball narrowly clearing the bar.
Newsome brought on three players at half time. Owen James for Bluck, Craig Hopkins for Jamie Barrett and Gary Moran for Andy Bourne.
Normally that amount of changes can disrupt the side but not Gresley. They continued to play good football and with two minutes of the restart they scored their third.
Moran received a pass from Gray and sent a pinpoint cross into the box and Kitching rose to head neatly into the corner for his hat trick.
Kitching took his tally to four to crown a sparkling display on 53 minutes. This time Richard Wardle provided the cross and a powerful header by Kitching beat Lamb easily.
On 54 minutes Smith was replaced by Chris Parkins and ten minutes later Mick Crawford by Mark Peters.
Substitute Parkins was involved in Gresley's fifth goal. He put a fine pass through to Kitching on the edge of the area but his shot was blocked. The rebound fell nicely to Gray who made no mistake and smashed the ball home.
It was all Gresley now as Guiseley became a little dispirited and Hopkins added to their misery by scoring his first goal for Gresley on 70 minutes after sidestepping a defender and coolly slotting the ball past Lamb.
With only 9 minutes on the clock remaining Gresley made it seven when Parkins headed in from yet another superb Gray cross.
With all the pre-season games over and finishing with such an emphatic victory Newsome and his team must prepare for what could be a tricky opening league fixture at Evesham United. They will not find their first opponents so charitable but if they play with the flair, conviction and finishing prowess showed in this match Gresley will be one to look out for in the race to take the title this season.
The manager's view
"First of all I would like to thank Guiseley for coming down to the Moat Ground because they were struggling to put a side together. They still travelled down with only 12 lads and fair play to them they still managed to do that for us.
"I thought we started alright, the movement was good and it always gives the strikers confidence if they score goals and it all bodes well for next week. That match against Evesham will be a tougher test because they will have a full strength team out.
"Neil Kitching took his goals well and I think he's been impressive all pre-season. I've been pleased with him and he just needed a goal. He was gutted on Tuesday night, absolutely gutted because he missed a good chance and they've all gone in for him today and I'm really pleased for him.
"I don't think we passed the ball round as well today as we did on Wednesday, I thought we did better on the ball then, but saying that I'm really nit picking.
"I know next week will be tough but it's better to go in with a score like today's behind you rather than being on the other end of one like that.
"The injury situation seems to be slowly improving. There are a couple of the lads struggling but we'll have to dig in and see what happens.
"Chris White did the warm-up and was going to come on for some of the game but he said his ankle was a bit sore so we didn't take the risk, I can't see the point in it. Stuart Evans was nowhere near today and he might well be struggling for next Saturday."
Gresley Rovers (2) 7
Guiseley (0) 0
Scorers: Kitching 2, 25, 47, 53, Gray 67, Hopkins 70, Parkins 81.
Gresley Rovers: Lindley, Wardle, G White, Barrett (Hopkins 45), Bluck (James 45), Cheetham, Bourne (G Moran 45), Crawford (Peters 63), Kitching (Smith 70), Smith (Parkins 54), Gray.
Guiseley: Lamb, Adams, Cater, Johnstone, Larkin, Freeman, Sumner, Thackwray, Elliott, Henry (Gallagher 45), Chattoe.
Attendance: 200
