Cinderford Town vs Gresley Rovers
This was another of those frustrating games were Gresley failed to kill off the opposition after totally dominating the second half.
Many points have slipped through the Moatmen’s hands this season due to the lack of the killer instinct the top teams need.
Gresley were knocked back as early as 9 minutes when Andy Cheetham only half cleared the ball with a header which fell into the path of Scott Griffin who made no mistake as he smashed the ball home from close range.
On 14 minutes the visitors had their first serious attempt on goal when they were awarded a corner.
Nathan Tate curled in a superb ball into the area and Steve Rutter got to the ball but put his volley over the bar.
Andy Bourne then put the home defence under pressure on 20 minutes as he ran on to a superb through ball from Chris Gray but a well timed tackle by Lee Burby denied Bourne a shooting chance.
On 39 minutes Matt Moran made a good run down the flank and his cross was cleared as far as Bourne and his shot rebounded back to Moran but his shot went well over the bar.
Gresley should have gone in for the break on level terms when on 43 minutes Bourne played a pinpoint ball putting Gray through on goal but, with only the keeper to beat, he put his shot over the bar.
The second half was all Gresley with the home side only having one chance in 30 minutes and that was after just after the break.
On 50 minutes Stuart Evans’ through ball was headed on by Bourne to Rutter, who turned sharply and hit a shot just wide of the upright.
The, only minutes later, Rutter brought a fine save out of home keeper Andy Fisher after being put through by Jamie Barrett. And as the ball broke loose the keeper managed to regain his balance and collect Tate’s left wing cross at the far post.
On 56 minutes the Cinderford defence failed to deal with a corner from Tate which fell to Bourne who did well to shoot on the turn but his shot went agonisingly wide of the post.
Two minutes later another chance to level went begging Barrett played a fine ball to Bourne who made ground down the right and he played a square ball to Gray who again failed to beat the home keeper.
It looked to be one of those days when many chances were made but not put away.
On 68 minutes the goal that looked like coming did indeed arrive. Tate fed Bourne who got to the byeline and put in a low cross for Rutter to beat the diving Fisher.
The Gresley striker almost doubled his tally just minutes later but his header from a Barrett cross just skimmed the top of the crossbar.
Gresley continued to apply pressure and another goal for the visitors looked certain and it came on 76 minutes.
Moran played a high ball into the box which Bourne did well to head on to Rutter who brought the ball down and under control expertly and then drilled in a low shot under the diving Fisher.
Gresley were unfortunately to rue the abundant missed chances when on 80 minutes Jason Donovan earned his side a point they didn’t deserve.
It was from a set piece that the goal came. Cinderford had been awarded a free kick on the left and Paul Donnelly swung the ball high into the area were it was flicked on by Leigh Hall and Donovan was waiting unmarked on the line to nod in the equaliser.
The manager’s view
“I really thought we did enough to get something out of the game – to be honest we did enough to win it.
“In the first half I thought we had far too many players whose effort was not what it should have been. But we gave it a go in the second half. We came out and did really well but I’m disappointed that we allowed them to get the second goal.
Cinderford Town (1) 2
Gresley Rovers (0) 2
Scorers: Griffin 9, Donovan 80 (Cinderford Town); Rutter 68, 76 (Gresley Rovers).
Cinderford Town: Fisher, Edwards (J Addis 84), Hook, Phillips, Hoskins (Hall 36), Donnelly (Hammonds 84), Richards, Donovan, D Addis, Griffin, Burby. Subs not used: Trueman, Macklin (gk).
Gresley Rovers: Lindley, Moran, Tate, Wardle, Evans, Cheetham, Bourne, Barrett, Rutter, Timms, Gray (Peters 85). Subs not used: Kitching, Bluck, Newsome, Sheils (gk).
Rovers Star Man: Steve Rutter – deserved his goals.
Referee: J Holbrook (Kidderminster).
Attendance: 125
