Gresley Rovers vs Alfreton Town
This was an unfortunate end to a tough run in the Youth Cup. Alfreton gave us the best opposition we had come up against this term, playing good football and penetrating both flanks in the first half and we found it difficult to contain them.
Sitting deep and soaking up the pressure was the order of the day even though it did not produce good football to watch. We tried to break them down as quickly as we could but when they were in full control we tended to sit deep and try to counter attack.
We deserved to go in at the interval one nil down at the interval after all the possession they had had, but it was the only attempt they had on goal in the half, a shot from the edge of the box that fizzed through a crowd of players and nestled in the bottom right of the net.
The second half started with the goal of the game. Guthrie kicked off and knocked it to Bolt who turned to goal and saw the keeper off his line. Bolt launched a shot from the half way line and netted the Beckham way.
Unfortunately our luck soon ran out when a well worked move down the right saw a cross half cleared and swiftly returned into the box finding an Alfreton striker connecting and looping his header into the top right. After a little more pressure we created a couple of half chances but did not really take the game to them with any conviction.
That was the end of our F.A. Cup run this term and focus must now be on the league where we are hoping to better last terms 4th place.
Final score: Gresley Rovers 1 - 2 Alfreton Town
Rovers' performance rating: good effort but lacked edge 7/10
Dean Amess (Assistant Manager)
