Rushall Olympic vs Gresley Rovers
Well here we are again, it seems like the back end of one season blends into the start of the next with no respite, the only people who do get a rest are the fans and they probably deserve it.
Gresley had a very good second half to last season and through players progressing or moving on to pastures new, many new faces were brought in, namely Andy Mottershead, Lewis Gadsby, Mike Hallett, Sam Bartrum and Lee Mitchell.
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Also youngsters from our ever improving junior section are being given a taste of youth team football with James Rolland who came on in the last ten minuets of the game and Josh Butler also made the trip. Luke Leyland (T.S.Sports) also made the squad.
Monday night's game started off very lively with Rushall breaking into the box within the first minute.The game soon settled down and Gresley got into a good rhythm with Bennett and Bolt causing problems with their pace, it was in fact Bolt who opened the scoring turning a Rushall corner that was cleared by the impressive Tom Skinner and Bolt beat all for pace and calmly slotted into the corner.
This is how it stayed until half time although Gresley could have gone in 2 or 3 up with chances squandered from Bolt, Crute, Bennett and Skinner.
Second half saw a few changes with Joe Brockley coming on and stamping his authority on the game with 2 goals including 1 in the 88th minute, both were taken very well side footing the ball into a well defended net.
Gresley were then awarded a penalty and Bolt fired over. The third goal came from my man of the match Johnnie Guthrie, calmly rounding the keeper and slotting home.
Johnnie put in a solid performance being involved in most attacks and breaking up a great deal of Rushalls moves.
Two consolation goals came from a scorcher on the edge of the box hitting the top left hand corner giving Gaz Wilson no chance, then a mix up at the back gave their attacker a tap in when the ball somehow squirted from Wilsons arms when two Gresley players went for the same ball.
Team:
G.Wilson 6. T. Skinner 7 C.Bennett 7 A.Mottershead 6. L.Gadsby 7. J.coulson 6. J.Ward 7.(J.Brockly 50mins) J.Guthrie 8. N.Crute 7.A.Bolt 6.(S.Bartrum 65mins) L.Mitchell 6.(J.Rolland81mins).
Subs not used: L.Leyland, M.Hallett.
Form Rating: Good result, far better teams out there.
