Match Photos
Gresley Rovers vs Stourport Swifts
Stourport Swifts came to the Moat Ground languishing in the bottom reaches of the league but left grasping all three points and their players’ reactions to the win could not have been more joyous even if they’d have won the league.
An offside goal and an early Christmas present by the home side’s defence enabled Swifts to claim only their 4th win of the current campaign and Gresley’s 2nd league defeat at home.
Things could have been so different if Gresley had stuck away the numerous chances they had within the first ten minutes of the game.
Gresley came out of the stalls at a gallop and could have had two goals in as many minutes.
Gary Smith had the first chance but could not get any power to his shot and Andy Bourne made a fine run into the box but could not get his pass into the danger area.
On 5 minutes Richard Wardle made a run down the right and put a pass through to Smith but the striker was unable to capitalise.
Swifts made their first attack of a frenzied first ten minutes which ended in a shot flashing across James Lindley’s goal with no-one there to knock the ball in.
On 12 minutes Lindley was called on when former Gresley player John Cotterill crossed to Kerry Giddings who helped the ball on to John Shirley but the Gresley keeper did well to make a good save from the right footed shot.
On 17 minutes Chris Gray’s header went to the keeper and on 22 minutes the midfielder almost made connection from a free kick.
Andy Cheetham made a good run down the left and his cross fell to Barrett whose shot was deflected for a corner. From the kick Ian Bluck headed goal wards and Bourne just failed to connect as the ball went agonisingly past the post.
The second half opened with Gresley going forward and were again unlucky not to have scored when Bourne went close from a Wardle cross.
On 61 minutes the visitor’s had their enormous slice of luck. A vicious shot by Anthony Fletcher was parried by Lindley and Richard Ball, standing in an offside position sidefooted the ball into the net.
Gresley supporters and players could not believe that the goal had been allowed and Wardle was booked for his protestations.
Things got worse for Gresley nine minutes later. However, this time it was self-inflicted.
A free kick by Shirley was speculatively lobbed into Gresley’s area and a schoolboy mix up between James Parkinson and Lindley, as each of them left the ball for each other to deal with, enabled Swifts to double their advantage as Ball, not believing his luck, tapped the ball home.
At least Gresley sparked into some sort of a response and piled forward to try and get something out of what was fast becoming an embarrassing and frustrating afternoon.
Lady Luck was not on the side of Gresley when, from a Barrett corner, the ball was clearly handled in the area by David Davies but the referee waved the appeal away.
Gresley at last got some reward on 76 minutes when they were awarded a free kick 25-yards out.
Bluck elected to take the kick and hit a screamer over the wall and into the bottom corner of the net.
Gresley went all out for the equaliser their efforts deserved and were denied by the width of a post as Gary White smashed a shot that hit the woodwork in the final minute of the game.
The manager's views
"I didn't think we were at the races today although I don't think they deserved to win.
"Their two goals were the result of some very poor defending. I have tried to bring people in but they won't come. Some supporters were quick to jump on our lads backs and especially on my back but what can I do?
"You try and make decisions and make the call as you see it but it's easy to call after the event.
"Their first goal looked miles offside and the second was a mix up at the back. Apparently Jim Lindley shouted 'away' but Jim Parkinson, for some reason, decided to leave it. It was a schoolboy error really and it costs us the game.
"I thought we dominated possession wise but in the final third we seem to run out of ideas. They defended well at the end of the day. They dropped back to the edge of the box and said 'this is us, break us down' and we found it difficult.
"I the first five minutes of the game we had chances and if we'd have put them away it could have been a different game.
"Right at the end when White hit the post, if that goes in everyone would have said how well we'd played. I try not to get carried away if we win and I try not to get carried away when we lose.
"We seem to start both halves well and then taper off and I don't know why but we gave away two sloppy goals again. They weren’t even chances we gave them the goals – they were free goals and we can't keep doing it and getting out of gaol.
"I've tried to get a defender on loan but he doesn't want come. His club is trying to push it but he doesn't want to come. They are going to have a word with him again but what can you do?"
Gresley Rovers (0) 1
Stourport Swifts (0) 2
Scorers: Bluck 76 (Gresley Rovers), Ball 61, 70 (Stourport Swifts).
Gresley Rovers: Lindley, Bluck, Cheetham, Hopkins, Parkinson, Barrett, Wardle, Gray (Tomlinson 58), Bourne, Smith (Kitching 58), G White. Subs not used: Crawford, Peters, Sheils (gk).
Stourport Swifts: Clarke, Cotterill, Shirley, Fletcher, Davies, Ulfig, Nicholls (Sutton 58), Marsh, Ball, Harris, Giddings. Subs not used: A Wright, S Wright, Stainer, Titterton.
Rovers Star Man: Ian Bluck – his free kick was a chink of light on a dark afternoon.
Refree: R Fletcher.
Attendance: 267
