Match Photos
Gresley Rovers vs Barwell
Reserve Team player manager Gary Norton came off the bench to grab a late goal to seal a fine 2-0 win against Barwell at the Moat Ground. Youth Team players Craig Tucker and Chris Mawbey were drafted into the squad to join fellow youth teamers Matt Brown and Nathan Tate.
The visitors had the first major chance of the game with 10 minutes on the clock as Justin Quelch race through on goal but keeper Ian Roberts race out to the edge of his box to block well with his left hand. Greg Smith fired a 25 yard shot just past the post on 12 minutes and also headed just over from a Nathan Tate cross. Rovers took a deserved lead on 24 minutes when trickery down the right from Carl Eagling saw him jink inside two defenders and fire a left foot shot in the far corner of the Barwell net for his first goal in a Rovers shirt. Sloppy defending almost gave Barwell an equaliser but Dan Coleman couldn’t direct his header on target. H.T 1.0
The second half was a scrappy affair as neither side managed to string any significant passes together. Barwell shaded the half and had quite a few half chances but the back three of Parkinson, Grosse and Roberts held firm.
Substitute Craig Tucker almost provided the second for Nathan Tate when his excellent cross was volleyed just over the bar. Tucker again provided a golden opportunity to kill the game off when he again crossed from the right, this time for Eagling who was unmarked 7 yards out but he got his header all wrong and the chance was gone. The game was over on 89 minutes when Gary Norton’s thunderous header from a Chris Mawbey corner found the back of the Barwell net.
Final Score
Gresley Rovers Reserves 2
Barwell Reserves 0
1. Ian Roberts
2. Dave Roberts
3. Nathan Tate
4. Paul Grosse
5. James Parkinson
6. Greg Smith
7. Matt Brown
8. Mickey Sandar (c)
9. Jon Jenkinson
10. Mykey Pryce
11. Carl Eagling - 1
12. Craig Tucker
14. Chris Mawbey
15. Gary Norton - 1