Gresley Rovers vs Chasetown
People will read this report and think well he's sure to write that he's the Manager. It's so one sided. However, I always try hard to tell it how it is and today was totally one sided. The result was completely un-just, but all you can do is put it down to being one of those days. You know you have played well and normally you would have taken the result.
From the start Gresley looked balanced, talented and determined. It was with only two minutes gone that Gresley should have had the clearest penalty. Kye Hall's first touch took him past the last defender so all he had to do was strike it home. However, the Chasetown defender made sure he went know further as he blocked and tripped him with his leg. This indecision was to set a tone for the rest of the game.
Shortly after Jordan Blair beat two lads with great skill in the corner and set the ball up for "Santos" Farrell to fire home. It looked like a goal all the way except for a brilliant save from the Chasetown keeper.
Not long after that another fine save stopped Gresley taking the lead.
Chasetown finally got a look in when the assistant referee failed to flag for not one but I counted four oppponents very clearly offside. Whilst that happened at one end, the other official flagged once as Hall was through and again when Blair scored, from a corner I think. He must have been the only person in the ground who would disallow that.
Chasetown had a few attacks but I genuinely can't remember any dangerous situations, shots, saves or even corners.
Gresley played some good football, entertained and looked the only team capable of getting a result.
The score was 0-0 at half time. We were very positive coming out second half and this showed as for 25 minutes Chasetown never even entered our half, it was that one way. The keeper was excellent to keep us out and we just couldn't score.
We made our first change bringing on Ryan Yearsley for the injured Santos. With about 20 minutes left, Chasetown played a long ball through and the number 10 latched onto it, controlled, shot and it was in off the post. Everyone felt completely gutted and cheated.
For the next five minutes we had a difficult spell. Kennyson pulled off two fine saves, then another ball over the top, a slip and Chasetowns number 9 made it two. UNBELIEVABLE.
Fifteen minutes left and we changed formation. Pat Rowell came on behind the front two, and we moved to a 3-5-2. Although we were camped in their half for so long we only had two defenders back at times. Rowell slipped in Yearsley whose cross was just about dealt with. Then Rowell got wide, checked back and crossed for Hall to head home. 2-1, five minutes left and you really felt we could do it. Next Rowell went through one on one only to have the ball stick at his feet at the last minute and he had to check back.
Hall whose strength and skills had been a threat all game beat three opponents and as he went past the last in the box, you could always see what was about to happen. He was clearly brought down but yet again no decision. Shortly after that Williams cut inside the box only to be brought down and surprise, no penalty. Everyone in the ground must have been totally amazed and shouting similar things.
Chasetown took off an attacker for an extra defender and just tried to run things out. In the dying seconds though, Yearsley was through with only the keeper to beat but hit the post.
I will never know how teams that dominate games in such away end up losing, but we see it all the time and that is football. I never like to call officials in any way. It's a difficult job, but today there were some very poor decisions indeed.
I can only be positive about my teams performance. It was excellent. Midfield, defence looked spot on and on another day our forwards would have had a hat full.
We are moving in the right direction, and I do feel very confident about the team the players and what should come. So no one should be negative in anyway about losing today. We keep things going exactly as they are and we'll end up where we want to be.
So well done to all the lads, heads up, we go again.
On a final note, I noticed a few more supporters there today and despite the final result I feel sure you were entertained, and feel disappointed like us that we did not get the win. Thank you to all who came, I hope to see you again and a few more besides.
Gresley Team : Kennyson, Gadsby, Mawbey, Grosse, Cox(c), Smith, Heer, Williams, Blair, Hall, Farrell, Yearsley, Rowell, Halliman.
