Match Photos
Gresley Rovers vs Cirencester Town
Gresley win again
Jon Newsome named an unchanged side as Gresley Rovers continued their improvement when they beat Cirencester Town at the Moat Ground.
Right from the start Gresley pushed forward and with just over a minute on the clock Ellis Glassup was being tested by Craig Hopkins.
Tom Stevenson was then called on to head Andy Bourne's cross over his own bar for a corner and Glassup then lost a Chris Gray corner but the ball was scrambled away for what was a series of corners.
On 13 minutes Cirencester made their first meaningful attack of the game and it needed Gresley defender Andy Cheetham to clear off the line after Jimmy Carter had put through Keith Knight.
Gresley midfielder Michael Crawford went close to opening the scoring when his superbly hit free kick cleared the defensive wall and skimmed the top of the cross bar.
On 21 minutes the goal that Gresley's domination deserved finally came. Crawford played the ball out wide to Gary White whose low cross from the left found Neil Kitching who made no mistake at the near post to score his second goal in successive games.
Still the visitor's pressed and on 26 minutes James Lindley pulled of a fine save to tip the ball over from an Ian McKenna drive.
On 34 minutes the visitors almost equalised. Lindley spilled a Nathan Perkins cross and as Carter set up a chance on goal White was on hand to make a crucial clearance.
Newsome was forced to make his first change of the game on 37 minutes when Gary Moran replaced the injured Craig Hopkins.
With 6 minutes remaining of the first half Gresley doubled their lead. A superb pinpoint cross by the impressive White was smashed home by Bourne from six yards giving Glassup no chance in the visitor's goal.
Gresley continued to have numerous chances before the break and could have had the game settled by the break when Moran's deep run set up Gary Smith who then found Bourne whose shot flashed across the face of the goal.
Early in the second half Gresley was denied a goal after Smith and Moran conspired to create a chance for Kitching but his close range header was very well saved by Glassup.
Chris Gray then a good chance but fired over the bar after Crawford had put him through.
On 55 minutes those hatful of missed opportunities could have come back to haunt Newsome's team when Lindley was called on to make yet another top class save this time from a close range header by Adam Mayo.
Newsome made his second change a minute later when Chris Parkins replaced Smith and the substitute could have made an immediate impression. Gresley broke quickly from a Cirencester corner and Parkins hit a cracking volley that was well saved by Glassup.
Andy Bourne became Gresley's second casualty on 72 minutes with a slight calf injury and was replaced by Danny Hobby.
On 78 minutes Cirencester pulled a goal back when Kevin Lee was allowed a free header from a Knight free kick.
This lead to a frantic few minutes as the visitor's went after an equaliser and it almost came when Carter's attempt went straight to Lindley.
Relief came for Gresley on 85 minutes when Parkins secured the points for Gresley. Some good work by Gray, White and Kitching resulted in Parkins holding off the attention of a defender and with only the keeper to beat placed the ball beyond Glassup's grasp and into the net.
Right at the end of time added on Kitching could have made it 4 but he unfortunately put his header wide.
The manager's view
"The first half I though we played well, second half we started well but lost our way a little bit we got a little bit sloppy and lost our shape.
"Chris Parkins couldn't have scored at a better time it relieved the pressure for us. They had scored a goal, a sloppy goal really from a set piece and all of a sudden there is a bit of pressure on us to stay ahead. They start having a real good go and obviously have hopes of getting an equaliser and that's in a game where if we had stuck our chances away we wouldn't have had a problem. Then if they'd have nicked one it when were four up it wouldn't have mattered so much.
"It's massively important that we start hitting the target that's the biggest thing. If we come in after the game saying 'their keeper's done ever so well and pulled off five or six really top class saves then fair play. But we're not even hitting the target, when we do hit the target we seem to score a goal and luckily our keeper's pulled off two or three good saves that kept our heads above water.
"I think we dominated the game for large periods of time and we should have won more convincingly yet again. But, should I be complaining or should I be happy it's a difficult one.
"Obviously I'm happy we won but I've had a little bit of a moan at them because we let them back in to it and we got a bit sloppy and we could have done better.
"Looking ahead to Monday's game Craig Hopkins could be struggling, there are a few lads who have knocks but it's amazing what 24hours can do. I'll speak to Craig tomorrow and see how he is. The squad will probably be the same as today.
"I brought Gary Smith off to give Chris Parkins a run. I don't think Gary Smith has looked as lively as he did in pre-season. But saying that he holds the ball up very well, he gives us other options and really he's just in need of a goal. Andy Bourne is still feeling his calf and Ian Bluck took a bit of a knock.
"Neil Kitching got another goal today and he's on a bit of a run at present and long may it continue.
"Gary White played well and played like he did during pre-season. I told them to go out and play with no fear and don't be worried about making mistakes. You've got to make them; everybody makes mistakes at some time. Go out and try and do the right thing and do it positively. And when we play like that we are a lot better team, but when we start worrying and saying 'I don't want to make a mistake' we trip ourselves up a bit."
Gresley Rovers (2) 3
Cirencester Town (0) 1
Scorers: Kitching 21, Bourne 39,Parkins 85 (Gresley Rovers); Lee 78 (Cirencester Town).
Gresley Rovers: Lindley, Wardle, G White, Crawford, Bluck, Cheetham, Bourne (Hobby 72), Hopkins (Moran 37), Kitching, Smith (Parkins 56), Gray. Subs not used: Clarke (gk), James.
Cirencester Town: Glassup, Ratcliffe (Hughes 69), Hunt, Mayo, Stevenson, Fraser, Knight, Perkins, Carter, McKenna (McCabe 59), Lee. Sub not used: Davies.
Rovers Star Man: Gary White – another good display by the young defender.
Referee: K Ingram (Kingswinford).
Attendance: 305
