Match Photos
Rocester vs Gresley Rovers
Manager Jon Newsome made one change to the Gresley line-up bringing in Stuart Evans into the back line to replace Gary Knight who has joined Redditch United.
Gresley opened the livelier and created a couple of half chances that tested the home defence.
Richard Wardle played a through ball to Neil Kitching but before the striker could take his shot he was tackled by Mick Ede.
On 6 minutes the home side hit back with a swift attack and James Lindley was alert to the danger and raced off his line to clear the ball away from the edge of his penalty area after Rob Wade had beaten the Gresley defence running onto Darren Alexander's pass.
The home side almost opened the scoring when Andy Bostock sent a dangerous cross into the box but Wade failed to capitalise and the ball flew over Lindley's bar.
On 13 minutes Jamie Barrett had his chance to open the account for the visitors after some good work by Gary White but the youngster dwelt just a fraction too long on the ball and the Romans managed to clear the danger.
On 15 minutes a fine run down the left flank by Andy Cheetham led to a cross which Barrett did well to control but his strike hit the side netting.
Six minutes later the Romans made another run into the Gresley third but some resolute defending by Evans soon snuffed out the danger.
On 32 minutes Evans flighted a ball into the area which Kitching managed to get his head on to and knocked it into the path of Gary Smith.
Smith was trying to get the ball under control and appeared to miskick his shot and again the Rocester defence cleared easily.
Cheetham and White linked together well down the left and Cheetham got past the static defence but his attempt at a cross was blocked by Mick Ede and away for a corner.
Mark Peters swung in the corner and Evans was unlucky when his header was deflected over for another corner which this time the Rocester back line managed to clear.
Peters was again in the thick of things as he was upended by an illegal tackle. The midfielder took the free kick himself and found Kitching unmarked but the striker put his header wide of the mark.
The second half started as the first had with Gresley making the running in the first 10 minutes. However, it was the home side who almost took the lead when Wade sent in a cross which Ian Bluck did well to head over the bar.
Cheetham continued to make telling runs down the left flank and it was one of the defenders pin-point cross that found Wardle down the right. Despite the attention of the home defenders Wardle managed to get in a cross which was, unfortunately, too close to Chris Wood in the home goal.
Gresley were now gaining the upper hand and putting Rocester under pressure much to their utter frustration.
On 50 minutes Gresley forced a corner. Peters swung in the ball and the ball found Michael Crawford but his header was caught from under his cross bar by Wood.
Eight minutes later the break through that Gresley's pressure deserved came. White received the ball about 40 yards out and mad a superb run at the Rocester defence. The young defender easily avoided two tackles and then smashed an unstoppable left foot shot giving Wood no chance at all.
Tempers began to become frayed and the tackles began to fly in with the referee having to speak to players from both side.
Newsome took off Kitching bringing on Paul Tomlinson as Gresley continued to try and double their score in a game they now dominated.
It was the substitute that almost gave Gresley their reward but he could not get onto a pass from Smith.
On 71 minutes Rocester were down to 10 men when Wade was shown the red card for an elbowing Bluck.
To Rocester's credit they did not throw in the towel and with nothing to loose they searched for an equaliser but their attacks were being dealt with easily by the Gresley back line giving the Gresley keeper one of his easiest games so far this season.
It was Gresley who almost had the final say when with only a few minutes remaining Crawford went close after receiving a pass from Smith.
The Manager's view
"Today's game was a bit of a battle. But I thought for the first 20 minutes we did really well. We played better football going forward but we just didn’t join up with the front men when we needed to.
"I then thought we fell into their trap a little bit and made it into a battle. Overall I thought we were the better team and we should have won the game. It was only a matter of time before we scored. One problem is that we didn't look like we had a cutting edge today.
"We had a couple of good chances in the first half that we should have capitalised on but unfortunately we didn't.
"The goal was a great goal. Gary White ran at their defence and asked them questions and finished it off superbly. He got a good left foot; a good strike and he scores like that regularly in training. He should do that more in matches.
"I've told them in the dressing room that they just need to believe in themselves a little bit more and not to make it easy for the opposition. When we do that we look a much better side.
"We are looking alright at the back now. Today was only our second clean sheet so I feel we are a lot more solid.
"If I have one disappointment it is that we failed to link up with the front men at times when we should have. You can't do everything during just two nights training.
"I glad that we've responded to the bad results we've had by stringing three wins together, one at home and two away which is good for us.
"I'm delighted with the result but I know we can still play better than that. The lads know that, it's just a confidence thing again.
"Neil Kitching had to come off after he was kicked. It's no more than a kick so hopefully he should be OK for next weekend.
"There were a few knocks and bruises but everyone should be fine.
"With regards to the long term injuries, Mark Shiels is on the way back but I've told him to take it step by step and not to rush things. He's getting to the end of a very long difficult tunnel.
"Chris White has had his scan today and I will be contacting him tonight to see how he's gone on. He won't get the results of the scan for a couple of days. Hopefully they have found out what the problem is. It's been a very frustrating time for him so I feel for him a little bit.
"Lee Withers trained with us on Tuesday and we've got to see how he reacted to that. Jim Lewsley has a bad knee so that's just a matter of time and rest. We did have an injury list as long as your arm but it's slowly becoming less and less.
"The biggest problem we have now is keeping everyone happy. That's why Chris Gray and Chris Gray have gone out on loan. I said to them both they have gone on loan to benefit them and Gresley Rovers, not to get rid of them. Hopefully they will have a month, enjoy it and get their confidence back. Then come back something like they were before."
"As to the sending off I didn't see it - which is an old manger's cliché – but I though the kid was a little lucky when he handled the ball. He punched the ball out and I think he'd already been booked and according to the letter of the law a deliberate hand ball means a yellow card, so he was lucky not to have been sent off in the first half.
"If he did throw an elbow, as has been suggested, then he deserved to go. But I didn’t see it so it's hard to comment on the incident."
Rocester (0) 0
Gresley Rovers (0) 1
Scorer: G White 58
Rocester: Wood, P Ede, Rowntree (Leadbetter 63), Jones, M Ede, D Seward (Owen 80), A Seward (Oldaker 77), Carter, Alexander, Wade, Bostock. Subs not used: Brown, Edensor (gk).
Gresley Rovers: Lindley, Wardle, Cheetham, Evans, Bluck, G White, Peters (Hopkins 77). Barrett, Crawford, Kitching (Tomlinson 63), Smith (Bourne 83).
Rovers Star Man - Gary White - cracking goal to top off a solid game.
Referee: K Townsend (Kingswinford).
Attendance: 245
