Gresley Rovers vs Lichfield Enots Vikings
Gresley Rovers 1 - 4 Litchfield Enots
Scorer: Foster
Team: Ian Parker, Jack Moylan, Alex Peplow, Danny Gee, Dean Acton, Todd Foster (c), Andy Elliott, Matt Grice, Chris Smith, Paul Morton, Paul Hollis.
Subs: Mark Sladen, Carl Wymark, Luke Taylor, Steve Shrive
In the cup today and with our pitch suffering from the heavy rain, Litchfield agreed to swap it to their place. Our last game has been haunting me over the festive period, so I for one was pleased to get a game to help erase the memory.
We were missing Joe Tomlin who unfortunately broke his foot at work and will be out for several weeks. It was Martin Moylan's first game as assistant, and we went through things before the game. We went for Ian Parker in goal, that's what he signed on to be (a keeper), but has played really well outfield but he deserved his chance in goal.
So on a heavy pitch the game started, and we looked sharp from the off, a great response from our last game and something I was looking for. We were passing, had great movement, and for the first 20 minutes or so were dominating things. As we all know though, goals win games, and Litchfield struck twice in the first half and scored twice. It was completely against the run of play though, but they took their only two chances of the half, and we never took any of our many chances.
At half time all Martin and myself could say was keep it going, because we'd had a great performance, something we should be proud of. Ten minutes in we got it back to 2-1 when, we built from the back, and with about seven passes
found Hollis on the right who crossed a quality ball to be met by Foster who headed home. Morton picked up an injury, and was replaced by Taylor, and as they say "certain things change games," and Foster was brought down in their
area and the ref awarded a penalty. However their players told him it was outside the box?? (which it obviously wasn't) so he awarded a free kick just outside. So from that we never scored, but soon after they did, with a great
strike from their 15 year old sub. So with 20 minutes left we were 3-1 down and we swapped Moylan for Wymark and Parker for Sladen. We conceded another goal from a free kick awarded in another strange decision.
So today we lost AGAIN, but we completely outplayed our opposition, but goals win games!! However, Martin or myself can not be critical today, because we've outplayed Litchfield in EVERY department (but for goals) so I think you should ALL be proud of yourselves today. Mick (their secretary) said after that we are the best "footballing side they've played" and I think that is a great quote for Gresley Rovers and us. If we can match that performance
(despite the very few bitter critics) we will start to get a run going. Well proud of you ALL as, so you should be, so lets keep things going, credit to EVERYONE just how upbeat you ALL are about things. The attitude, commitment
and belief is there so let's keep it going lads. WELL DONE TO ALL results matter but performances do too!!!
MOM: Andy Elliott. Not fully fit yet but today showed great attitude, skill and ability because he shone in a game where everyone was good but showed that little bit more quality!!
