Shepshed Dynamo vs Gresley Rovers
Gresley Reserves showed today just how far they had come. With Andy Harrison and Chris Mawbey out injured, and Chris Blackshields, Scott Berriman, Phil Merry, Sean Barrett,
J. Rowland, M. Holmes and some Youth team lads all available for selection but rested this week, Gresley still fielded a quality team. This is now a very pleasing situation to be in. Still, much to be done though.
The atmosphere within the team felt very good, I was a little worried it may have been a bit too light hearted, but I think the lads understood that when the game starts that atmosphere must be used as a positive and not a negative.
I think the lads bossed the game from start to finish today. Suka Heer totally dominated the centre of midfield; Andy Dunn's passing was at its best despite having to fill in at right back again. Paul Grosse organised the defence and we rarely looked troubled.
Gresley exposed Shepshed from wide positions and very early on should have taken the lead. Both Colley and Dunn whipped in dangerous crosses that just needed a touch. Ward came closest when a terrific thirty-yard cross-field ball from Dunn found Ward and left him one on one with the keeper. Unfortunately the Shepshed goalie was in fine form and made a great save. From that point that was how most of the game went. Gresley had chances but the Shepshed keeper was equal to their efforts. Danny Cox came close with a free-kick. A few shots were closed down and really Shepshed made it as difficult as they could.
The only danger was on the break. Shepshed looked a lot for the ball over the top and you were always in fear of the breakaway goal. Those chances did come a couple of times too, but defensively we were comfortable and Pembo was not really troubled.
We came in at the break feeling we had done alright but knowing we could all give a lot more and generally up things a couple of gears.
Second half we did up the tempo, although still not at our best. The chances kept coming, especially from wide, but still no goals. Yearsley forced another fine stop from the keeper.
With about twenty five minutes left we brought on Chris White up front and moved Guthrie to right wing. Chris's class showed even though it's early doors for him yet. Five minutes later we brought on a new signing, 16 year old Patrick Rowell. (Patrick comes from Gresley Rovers under 16 team and has been at Port Vale for the last two years, he narrowly missed out on a scholarship and fortunately for us he has returned to Gresley).
The change in the forward line had the desired effect. Immediately Dunn slipped in Rowell whose cross for White was just intercepted. Two minutes later White put Rowell through, who then out paced the Shepshed defence and struck a fine effort goal bound. Unfortunately, the keeper made another excellent save.
Time was running out and it was looking as though we would never get the break through. About eight minutes to go, we made a final change and brought on Jarvis on the left for Ward. The ball was played up to Rowell who held it up well and slipped in a nice pass for Cox on the overlap. Cox beats the full back and whipped in a great low cross which White met well. The ball was stopped on the line but fell to Guthrie who forced it home.
Patience had paid off and the deserved three points were taken. The dying minutes saw Gresley get a little flustered needlessly, but other than that it was a good team performance though we all know we have a lot more to give.
The positives for me today have to be the strength and depth of our squad now. The obvious return of Chris White and especially the debut of Patrick Rowell, a lad I'm sure you will hear much more of.
The atmosphere is second to none and we have another league win.
Fingers crossed for the second leg semi final on Saturday. Due to the cup rules our selection will be very much restricted, but the effort as always will be 110%. It would be nice to hear some fans getting behind us, so if you can make it, please do.
Final score: Shepshed Dynamo 0 -1 Gresley Rovers
Scorer: J. Guthrie.
Team from: J. Pemberton, A. Dunn, D. Cox, L. Gadsby, P. Grosse, A. Colley, J. Ward, S. Heer, R. Draycott, R. Yearsley, J. Guthrie, C. White, P. Rowell, R. Jarvis.
