Gresley Rovers vs Walsall Wood
Well, I don't know what can be said about this game apart from it was crazy!!!
We played Walsall Wood a few weeks ago in a 0-0 game that I felt we should have won even with 10 men. So naturally, I felt that on Saturday we would have too much ability and power against 'The Wood'.
And so it proved in the opening 10 minutes when we looked sharper and stronger than them in most departments. Joe Urqhart started his first game for us on Saturday and was quickly involved in the action. He's a strong midfield player, good in the air and deceptively quick across the deck too. With more games I think he'll be a good acquisition for us and for the future.
We then started to turn up the heat a little more and went 1-0 up with a goal from Eddie Steer, which he did his best miss with a heavy final touch which ensured a bone crunching lunge with the keeper to make sure he poked it in under him.
Soon after we conceded an equaliser from the spot, although not directly, Tom Allan made a great save from the spot and their 10 followed in and finished the rebound.
We continued to create chance after chance and it was really one way traffic. The problem we were now having was that we were trying to force the game a little to try to get back in front, of which I believe I was the main culprit (and I should know better!!) but just before half time we got numbers 2 and 3 in quick succession. Chris White was deadly in both instances with instinctive 1st time finishes.
At half time and with a good 3-1 lead, Neil and I tried to make the lads aware that this game was not over and if they happened to get a goal back the game was still on. We needed to track runners, win battles and grind out a professional performance in the second half.... So what happened....
3-2 within the 1st 4 mins of the second half and this was now where the Kevin Keegan factor came in to play. Both sides just seemed to lose their heads....
Not 2 mins later Chris White scored his hatrick goal and then 2 mins later scored his 4th, our 5th and we were now 5-2 ahead. Just keep it tight and don't concede was my thought, but there was no way it was going to be kept at this scoreline. Lloydy gave away a free kick on the edge of our box. I made the ref make us go back the whole 10 yds before they took it. The wall looked good but the resulting free kick was better... 5-3.
The game then became a bit scrappy with neither team doing anything really special, then in the last 10 mins we had another flurry of goals. Paul Hollis came on for Chris White and scored with a neat 20yd finish from the edge of the box making it 6-3. Then we capitulated somewhat, with the game safe, 3 points in the bag, we gave them hope again. Gifted another free kick and a scrambled goal to make it 6-5 and an afternoon I don't think I'd like to have every week!!!
