Match Photos
Rugby United vs Gresley Rovers
Gresley Reserves visited Rugby this weekend in yet another "Cup" game. In fact we have only played one league game since I took over. Still at least we were playing a team from our league and a team that is doing very well. So it should be a decent benchmark to judge how far we've come.
It was also nice to actually have team selection problems of a different kind, despite the fact that Jak Ward was away and Rich Draycott, Alex Bolt, and Chris Blackshield were injured. One new signing, Adrian Colley made his debut.
Gresley began with a dream start. With less than 15 seconds gone Gresley played the ball down the left, where Ryan Yearsley beat his marker and drilled in a low cross for Suky Heer to slide in on and get his first goal for the club. Gresley continued at a fast pace, probably too fast, but enjoyed a good opening twenty minutes. Rugby though regained their composure and it soon became apparent that their 3-5-2 was giving us problems due to the extra man in the middle. However, we coped well, Joe Miller and Heer doing a good job. Phil Merry was also doing well even though he had had to play left side with no natural left winger available. The game continued from end to end was, I thought entertaining stuff for anyone watching.
Gresley finished the first half ahead. Possibly our biggest fault being we gave the ball away too cheaply after working so hard to win possession in the first place. Still, we were confident that we had more than matched Rugby and it was a game we could win.
Rugby though had other ideas and started the second half better. A cross from right to left found the Rugby wing back unmarked and it netted with calmness. Rugby's formation was giving Gresley problems, and the lack of a left sided attacker was adding to that problem. A solution had to be found, and a personal disappointment for me was how long it took to see what should have been more than obvious to me.
Gresley switched to a 3-5-2 also, moving Joe Miller into defence, Andy Harrison and Danny Cox up to wing backs, Andy Dunn went to centre with Heer and new boy Adrian Colley dropped into the centre as well. Phillip Merry was taken off in order to put the changes into place. The effect was almost immediate, and Colley latched onto a good move from centre midfield to rifle a shot and nearly score with his first touch. Gresley put some good moves together and won a number of free kicks as they constantly placed a threat on the Rugby goal. Johnnie Gutherie joined in up-front and he too looked certain to score as the ball rebounded off the bar. Unfortunately it passed his foot by inches.
So the scores remained level and as the game came towards a close Gresley definitely tired. Something we have noticed becoming a regular occurrence, which must be looked at. Rugby finished the stronger and but for two superb defensive clearances from Harrison and Lewis Gadsby, would have won the game.
Still, they didn't and a draw was a fair result overall on what was a good game of football by both sides. The lads were disappointed not to have won, which is a good thing and shows just how far we have come. On the whole though, both David and I were very pleased and continue to see a positive way forward.
On a final note, nice to see Matt and Rob at the game with their new toy. Some great photos on the website. Also Chris Blackshield who came along way to watch even though he was injured. Shows the exact example we expect off every player, not just the regular, reliable individuals. Chris has done himself allot of good by this act and we are beginning to see achievements in more than one area.
Well done the lads again, great attitude.
Team: Pemberton, Cox, Harrison, Gadsby, Mawbey, Miller, Heer, Merry, Dunn, Yearsley, Berriyman, Colley and Gutherie.
