Gresley Rovers vs Beacon Park
Gresley Rovers 4 - 2 Beacon Park
Scorers: Jones (pen), Smith, Holmes, Morton
Team: Tom Allan, Danny Gee, Tom Gregory, Gaz Jones (c), Nath Venning, Mark Shorthouse, Tom Fletcher, Rich Hanslow, Chris Smith, Matt Holmes, Paul Morton.
Subs: Stu Haywood, Olly Baum, Ben Kinson, Dean Acton, Steve Pepper, Karl Whymark
For the first time this season we had a full squad available which left Ivor and myself some tough choices of who to start? We went with basically the team that beat Netherseal, with the only changes being the lads who returned from the reserves.
With Beacon beating top of the league Red Lion 4-0 last week we knew they were going to be a good side. With the referee not showing up again we agreed that their manager should stand in.
We started off poorly to be honest, giving the ball away far to easily and for the first 20 minutes never got in their half. We then went a goal down when their player, who was flagged off side, netted and the referee let the goal stand? Although annoyed at his decision I think this actually did us a favour because from then on we started playing.
We had a few good breaks only to be flagged offside, the referee giving them? We kept playing neat football and Chris Smith broke down the left and the defender couldn't deal with his pace, hacking him down in the box. Gaz Jones stepped up and coolly put the ball in the net from the spot so 1-1 it was.
Once we'd drew level there was only one team who looked like winning we hit the post, then a great through ball from Tom Fletcher found Matt Holmes who put it into the box for Chris Smith to knock it in so 2-1 up at half time.
Second half I think we played some of the best football that I've seen from us tearing their defence apart. We looked solid at the back and were winning everything in midfield as well. Mark twisted an ankle so we put Nathan Venning in midfield and brought Ben Kinson on at right back. We then went 3-1 up when Holmes netted and Paul Morton soon made it 4-1.
We replaced Danny Gee, who'd picked up a hand injury in the first half, for Olly Baum. I've lost count of how many chances we made, think we hit the woodwork three times, and their keeper made some great saves. With 10 minutes left we swapped Jones, who'd injured his knee, for Dean Acton dropping Mr 'versatile' Nath Venning into centre half and Beacon caught us on the break to make it 4-2.
A great result from us today against a good side and shows just how much we've progressed because today we had no weak points. The defence was solid and after a poor start never really looked troubled. We've got midfield players who can tackle, pass quality balls and split defences. Up front we've got great ability and pace with bonus of having players who can score goals from anywhere. Well done and lets keep it up and show what we're all about?
Man of the match: Tom Gregory was outstanding today never missed anything and even went on a few runs up front??
