Note that this page is from our archive during the time when the club was called Gresley FC. It may not be related to the old Gresley Rovers.
Matlock Town Pre-Match News
Gresley manager Gary Norton will use todays friendly at the Moat ground against Matlock Town (3pm) to give some more of the club's young guns an opportunity to shine and show what they can do.
With Albert Landsdowne, Jake McIntosh, Connor Ward, Josh Garland, Zaki Evans and Ryan King already a regular feature in pre-season to date Norton plans to further cast his eye over the current club's talent pool this afternoon.With several of the first team squad carrying knocks, being rested or away on holiday, Norton has drafted in a number of the club's younger players to his squad. Norton also adds Burton Albion goalkeeper Jack Livesey as he continues to assess his goalkeeping options.
Youngster Ben Allsop has impressed between the sticks during pre-season to date and saved a penalty in Tuesday night’s 0-0 draw at South Normanton Athletic but Norton plans to give at least 45mins to the Burton first year professional who is from Scotland but lodges in Stretton whilst plying his trade at the Albion.
With Assistant Manager Carl Slater on holiday Gresley are also without Dom Allen, Jake McIntosh, Martyn Smyth, Kieran O’Connell, Kane Jellyman, Matt Roome who are all away whilst forward Alex Steadman returns later today from holiday having had delays to his flights.
Ryan King (Knee), Kane Lee (foot) and Connor Ward (ankle) are recovering from knocks so will not be risked whilst Josh Garland is working. All of this means Norton gets the opportunity to run the rule over several of the club's youngsters but even that plan has been hit by injury and unavailability.
Harry Hughes has a leg injury that won’t be risked whilst central defender James Hemmingway, who really impressed in the last three games of last season is unavailable as is midfielder Callum Jenkins who has impressed during pre-season. Marco Wilson and Nathan Bowen were also called up but unavailable,
On the plus side reserve youngster Harry Landsdowne and Brad Payne and Mitchell White from the U18 squad are included and Norton also plans to take a further look at ex Mansfield Town youngster Luke Morgan in match action for the first time having missed the last two games himself.
Morgan has impressed in pre season and was a recommendation of former player Matt Millns now assistant manager at Clipstone Miners welfare. Ryan Clemson will also be involved should he come through the warm up ok after his recovery from an ankle injury.
Squad: Livesey, Allsop, Barrett, Branch, A Lansdowne, Harrison, Graves, Morris Clarke, Hill, Evans, Morgan, Steele, White, H Lansdowne, Clemson, Payne, Dutton
