Match Photos
Gresley Rovers vs Rugby United
The unbeaten start to the season continued as the Reserve's convincingly beat Rugby Utd 6-2 at the Moat Ground. Matt Moran was the star of the show setting up four goals in easily his best performance of the season.
Missing the influential Carl Timms and Earl Alexander who were promoted to 1st team duty, Mick Leach started on the left in place of Alexander and Danny Tyres was recalled to central midfield. Strikers Jon Jenkinson and Mickey Sandar returned to the squad on the bench after being out suspended for 4 games.
Rovers should have taken the lead as early as the 4th minute when Nathan Tate's pass found Mycey Pryce in space on the left side of the box but he pulled his shot wide of the post.
Two minutes later, Pryce robbed Carl Russel on the edge of the box and fired in a shot that cannoned off the post before being cleared to safety.
Mick Leach then found Danny Lonergan in space on the right with a 50 yard pass and he cleverly beat his full back before pulling the ball back to Danny Tyres 7 yards out, but the midfielder contrived to miss when scoring looked easier.
Rovers early pressure continued and a neat exchange of passing down the left between Tate and Leach resulted in a superb cross to the far post being inches infront of Ryan Yearsley who just failed to connect.
The Rugby goal seemed to be living a charmed life but at last the goal that Rovers deserved came on 21 minutes when Matt Moran's 1st time cross was emphatically vollyed home by Yearsley from 12 yards out.
Moran again provided an opportunity to score, this time Greg Smith had his shot cleared off the line. Mick Leach was causing problems down the left and he cut inside on 36 minutes before firing a shot from 25 yards that smacked against the Rugby crossbar. HT 1-0.
Former Rovers player Amrit Sidhu made it 1-1 on 47 minutes when his dipping shot on the volley beat Ian Roberts in the Rovers goal.
A minute later the same player almost put Rugby ahead but Danny Lonergan was alert to clear his effort off the line.
Rovers regained the lead on 56 minutes when a good ball from Tyres found Mykey Pryce in space and he made no mistake from just inside the box.
A double substitution just before the hour saw Jenkinson and Sandar introduced and Jenkinson's 1st touch saw him make it 3-1 after he bent a shot with the outside of his foot inside the far post after being put through by Tyres.
Two minutes later, a corner routine provided the fourth goal. Matt Moran's near post corner was met full on the volley by centre half James Parkinson giving keeper Shepard no chance. Sidhu was starting to cause problems but some resolute defending by Parkinson, Grosse and Tate kept him at bay until the 82nd minute when he broke free to fire a great shot into the far corner of the Rovers net to make it 4-2.
Great work from Moran down the right saw him beat 3 defenders before releasing Jenkinson in space, he then crossed to the far post for Mick Leach to tap home goal number 5. Star of the show Matt Moran must have been nicknamed "Moran the tormentor" by the Rugby defence as he again was the provider in the 90th minute when he mesmerised the Rugby defence with his dribbling skills before releasing Jenkinson and this time he wasnt going to pass, he fired a shot inside the far post to make it 6-2
Final Score:
Rovers Reserves 6
Rugby Utd Reserves 2
1. Ian Roberts
2. Danny Lonergan
3. Nathan Tate
4. Owen James
5. James Parkinson (62')
6. Greg Smith
7. Matt Moran
8. Danny Tyres
9. Ryan Yearsley (21')
10. Mycey Pryce (56')
11. Mick Leach (87')
12. Paul Grosse
14. John Jenkinson (60', 90')
15. Mickey Sandar
