Bromsgrove Rovers vs Gresley Rovers
Saturday saw our first game of the season with an away trip to Bromsgrove Rovers in the league.
The squad saw the introduction of five first team fringe players in, Guiney, Leeson, Branch, D.Rowe and J.Rowe, and six new signings in Pemberton, Brady, J.Brown, Harrison, Draycott and Miller, in fact there was only Brevett,Barker and captain Sandar left from last seasons team.
After the introductions were through it was down to business, I knew it was going to be a case of who's who to start with, even for the hosts who themselves signed five players on before kick-off, so last years encounters weren't the best guide.
The game in the first half was pretty even although I feel the home team edged it on chances, in fact if it hadn't have been for a couple of fantastic saves from Pemberton in our goal we could have been behind, saying that though we troubled the home team with two great headers one from Brady the other from Leeson, on another day they're both in the net.
The deadlock was broken late on in the first half when Bromsgrove lobbed a hopeful ball into the box, this ball was met by a group of five or six players, a hand was seen to touch the ball, the referee saw it as a Gresley hand, penalty! And one nil to the hosts.
In the second half we took the game more to the home team with great chances from Sandar and Johnathon Rowe were missed, the woodwork prevented us from scoring on another occasion.
With half an hour to go I introduced Joe Miller and Richard Draycott for their debuts, both lads settled in well and got straight to work, Richard was very busy and effective going forward and Joe steadied things up in the middle of the park, both lads performed well, and will play a bigger part next game.
Changing from 4-4-2 to 3-5-2 in the last twenty to chase the game was always going to leave us a bit exposed at the back, but it was the risk I had to take, unfortunately on this occasion it back fired as Bromsgrove caught us on the break and scored a second.
Andy Harrison was introduced for his league debut with 15 mins to go, down the right, were he got involved in some good stuff going forward.
The game finished two nil to Bromsgrove, but I am not to disappointed as I know I've got the core of a very good young team here with an average age of below twenty and once the players get to know each other a little more and start to bond I know the results and performances will start to roll in, saying that let's hope they start next Saturday at Hinckley.
A special mention to James, Bryan and Mark who had tremendous games and stuck to the task and never let their heads drop, well done lads.
Squad
1. PEMBERTON
2. GUINEY
3. LEESON ( MANAGERS MAN OF THE MATCH)
4. BRANCH
5. BREVETT
6. BRADY
7. J.BROWN
8. D.ROWE
9. J.ROWE
10. SANDAR
11. BARKER
12. HARRISON
13. DRAYCOTT
14. MILLER
Reserve Team Manager
Simon Van-de-Broucke
