Gresley Rovers vs Red Lion Horninglow
Gresley Rovers 1 - 3 Red Lion Horninglow
Scorer: Joe Swift
Team: Ian Parker, Joe Tomlin, Danny Gee, Rich Foster, Dave Hatfield (C), Luke Taylor, Josh Gregory, Joe Swift, Sam Worth, Chris Smith, Paul Morton.
Subs: Sean Rudge, Andy Lyons, Craig Harrison
We were supposed to be at home today (but nobody turned up from the council to unlock the changing rooms) and with it being a damp cold day it was agreed to take the match to Shobnall. This was decided at 1-30 at the ski slope, so special thanks must go to Mark and his team (also Colin the ref), but Mark has the same passions as me (let's play football whatever problems arise).
So we all trundled off down Shobnall obviously putting the 2'o'clock kick off in serious doubt. Thankfully I have a great help in Nigel Worth, and between us we swiftly put the nets and flags up. This left very little time for either team to perform a proper "warm up" but again credit to both teams they just got on with it without any moans. It's a shame though, because we've installed Mark Shorthouse into a coaching role (to help out) and I'm sure he was looking forward to taking warm up!!
Anyway, we were without several players through varied reasons, but as I've said before I have a healthy squad so picking a strong team is never a problem. I just asked the team to start believing in themselves (something I feel has been lacking recently).
The game got underway, and as always the first encounters were quite even, and at times we tested their defence. We looked reasonably solid at the back, and midfield were battling well, up front Morton twice latched onto through balls but never tested their keeper. It took 15 minutes for the deadlock to be broken, when from a series of five corners, Red Lion opened the scoring with their player unmarked on the back post slotting home. The goal was coming, because we struggled to clear our lines, but although disappointing I knew that we would keep going. First half, I say was fairly even in terms of possession and chances and going in at the break I was fairly happy.
We needed to make a change at half time (Chris Smith was struggling with a knee injury) so we included Sean Rudge who'd impressed at training on Monday. We put him on the left side of midfield, which meant pushing Joe Swift up front to partner Paul Morton. We were only 5 minutes in when Red Lion added to their tally, they made a few short sharp passes and we never tracked their runners. I was mighty relieved 5 minutes later, when Ian Parker slid out to meet the ball, and with his leg up caught their striker (not the ball) and the ref waved play on. In all honesty I thought it was a penalty (which surely would of put the game out of sight) but credit to Lion they just got on with it.
With about 20 minutes gone, their keeper came out to clear the ball, and it fell nicely to Joe Swift who superbly chipped it into the net from some way out leaving the keeper stranded. It was a lifeline which gave us a lift, and obviously put Lion on edge a little. We did ride our luck though, as Lion searched for another, hitting the post with Parker well beaten. We then made two substitutions, with 15 minutes left we replaced Swift for Andy Lyons and Worth for Craig Harrison. This was just to put fresh legs on as both the players we'd replaced had done well and worked their socks off. Red Lion added a 3rd,but it was ruled out for off side, however with 8 minutes remaining they put the game beyond us with a quality finish.
Today wasn't the result wanted, but I felt our performance was good, and much improved from previous weeks. It did show today that there's work to be done to match the top teams in the league, but it is something we'll continue working hard on. I thought our midfield battled well, and look quite robust today, and our back four coped well most of the time with our forwards working hard but just let down a little by squandering a few chances first half. However I'm a firm believer that if you make chances then they'll come, Red Lion were more clinical in front of goal than us. Hopefully we'll get Mark Shorthouse fit soon which will give us a different option up front. Overall a good solid performance by everyone (good attitude and work rate) and today I feel the result was about right.
MoM: Joe Tomlin, solid and reliable as ever today again, his overall game improves week on week, and today he gave his all sticking everything in the way when needed well done Joe keep it going.
