Gresley Rovers vs Barton United
Scorers: Taylor, Worth, Morton
Team: Ian Parker, Joe Tomlin, Dave Hatfield (c), Rich Foster, Jack Moylan, Josh Gregory, Tom Fletcher, Luke Taylor, Matt Grice, Sam Worth, Paul Morton
Subs: Chris Smith, Danny Gee, Craig Harrison, Andy Elliott
We were at home to Barton Utd, and due to ongoing problems with the Old Hall, have found our "new home" next to the ski centre. Team selection is very difficult at the moment, because we've got a big squad full of talent, so
thankfully our players understand and are showing great patience.
I'd opted for a different formation for today's game, partly due to last week's disappointment and the fact that Barton are a good team. We switched to a 4-5-1 with Moylan making up the back four and playing Morton as a lone striker. We had a very strong bench (which meant we could change things if required) we'd added Elliott to this. I'm delighted to have him with us again.
The game got under way, and we looked sharp from the off. We knew that we needed to support Morton but more importantly assist on the defensive side (which we lacked last week). We got into our neat, quick, passing and looked hungry for victory. Morton (as always) was chasing everything up front and this paid off when he put their defence under pressure, and from the scramble Taylor fired home from close range on 10 minutes.
We continued in this vein and soon went 2-0 up, when Worth found space on the left and neatly chipped in leaving their keeper helpless.
Barton had very few answers, and being honest, not many teams will have when we get the ball down and pass it around. With 25 minutes gone however, Barton were given a lifeline, when the ref awarded them a penalty which I thought a little harsh because Foster rose and headed clear but their player "ducked" under him. Anyway some you get and some you don't, so they took their penalty well and we were still 2-1 to the good.
We still showed the desire and attitude expected, and Morton's pace was too much to cope with, their defender
brought him down in the area. Taylor stepped up to take the spot kick, and their keeper stood strong and saved his effort. From this Barton broke forward and in about five passes they had drew level. So again we needed to dig deep and ride out the remaining 10 minutes to half time (as the game became a little heated)
Half time talk was simple (although interrupted by the ref telling us not to question his decisions?? crazy) we needed more of the same.
Second half got underway, and from the off, we were at them again and with only 3 minutes gone Morton got his much deserved goal to take it to 3-2. We should have added more because we had enough chances. With 25 minutes remaining we made our first substitution (which was tactical) replacing Fletcher for Smith giving us a 4-4-2 formation. Martin and me had chose this option, to try to add another goal or two, and to give Morton some support
(who had done excellent on his own).
Smith soon got into the game and had 2 or 3 good chances which he failed to convert, but we were taking the game to
them. With 15 minutes remaining we replaced our "skipper" Hatfield for Gee and this meant Tomlin pairing up with Foster in the middle with Gee slotting in at right back.
We then made our last change bringing on Elliott for Grice
(who'd worked his socks off) and this meant switching Morton to the right. We then showed a little bit of inexperience, when we occasionally put ourselves under pressure by giving away the ball in dangerous areas. In the dying minutes Parker made a great save tipping over the bar as Barton tried to force an equaliser. We held strong though and as the whistle blew we'd got a much deserved three points taking us to second in the league.
So today, we've shown how much we've improved from last season, because we showed the attitude and ability that we've come to expect these days. Barton are a very good team, but today we showed that little extra it takes to win games, and today's result has shown that when we work together we can beat anyone.
We are still a very young side (so mistakes will happen) but today we showed great maturity in recovering from such mistakes. I would like to mention that I appreciate how understanding you all are regarding substitutes etc, and special thanks to Harrison (never got on again today but his time will come) and shows that we need great clubmen like him. Well done everyone but we cannot sit on our laurels, we need to show that work rate week in week out.
Mom: Dave Hatfield, great skipper's performance today organising, encouraging and never missed a challenge well done Dave hope you enjoy your holiday in the sun!
