Netherseal St Peters vs Gresley Rovers
Netherseal St Peters 4-4 Gresley Rovers
Scorers: Foster (pen), Smith, Gee 2
Team: Ian Parker, Joe Tomlin, Danny Gee, Rich Foster, Dave Hatfield (c), Tom Fletcher, Josh Gregory, Joe Swift, Sam Worth, Chris Smith, Paul Morton.
Subs: Luke Taylor, Mark Shorthouse, Dan Woodings, Craig Harrison, Sean Rudge, Jamie Stevens.
We were away to Netherseal in the supplementary cup, this is an extra mini-league where each team plays each other once and the top two go through. We'd met Netherseal earlier this season in the cup, and had beaten them quite convincingly, which can sometimes be a team's downfall.
The pitch was good, however there was a very strong wind blowing the length of it, so we spoke about getting the ball down. Netherseal started with the wind behind them, and they were much the brighter team, closing us down quickly. When we had possession, we were guilty of giving the ball away far too cheaply, even when under no pressure.
It came as no surprise that Netherseal took the lead, with only 4 minutes gone, when we failed to deal with a long throw in. We were guilty of making unforced errors, which is not like us at all, and we seemed to lack any sort of desire and composure. We did try to get the ball forward (which was difficult against the wind) and on such an occasion Morton again proved too skilful for their defence being brought down in the area. Foster went up and took the penalty, and coolly blasted it home to draw us level with only 10 minutes gone.
I felt we were lucky to be back on terms, as Netherseal had been the far better team, but now we looked to get a foothold on the game. Netherseal had other ideas of course, and continued to close us down quickly, but the signs were there that we were hanging on a little. On the few occasions that we passed it around, we looked sharp but these were few and far between. Netherseal again took the lead when again we failed to clear a set piece and added another to take them to a 3-1 lead. Smith took a freekick, just outside their area and his effort was cleared off the line, with their keeper beaten.
We spoke at half time, about certain things, and we all felt that we were not out of it yet however improvements were needed.
Second half got underway, and we were looking for a response, and we did look more purposeful. We had raised things but were still a fair way off our best but improvements were there so we went about trying to get back on terms. Smith pulled a goal back to make it 3-2,and I was hoping that we could go on and win the game. We were putting a lot more pressure on their defence, but they stood strong getting bodies behind the ball.
With 10 minutes gone, we made our first change bringing on Shorthouse (who's been out injured for 2 months) for Swift. This was to give him some much needed pitch time, and meant Smith going on the left wing. Netherseal rarely got into our half (like us first half), but from a rare time they did they added another which was a little disappointing. Things could of been worse, when again they broke free but a brilliantly timed tackle from Tomlin, denied them a shot.
Being 4-2 down we made our second change, replacing Fletcher for Taylor, which was a straight swap in midfield. We pushed them but they stood strong and credit to them they were grafting for their cause.
With 15 minutes remaining, Nige and myself, decided we had little to lose so we made our last change replacing Smith for Woodings. By doing this we went 3 at the back, leaving Gee to go as attacking right wing back and Worth doing the same on the left. The change was a gamble, but one we both felt was needed.
This move had almost an instant impact, as from a goal line scramble Gee poked the ball home. This is his first goal for us in 3 seasons and although we'd waited that long for his first, the second arrived 4 minutes later.
This was a great finish from a very acute angle leaving their keeper helpless, so we were level with 8 minutes remaining. We pushed hard for a winner, which I felt would of been cruel to Netherseal, but I hoped that we could just pull it off. However it was not to be as the whistle blew.
Today, yes the wind certainly played its part, but I feel that we can put it down to a bad day if being honest. Too many players just had an off day, which sometimes happens (and you cant put your finger on why) but we showed the character to battle back into a game we looked out of for long periods.
I feel that if that of been last season we'd of rolled over and gave up, so credit that we dug in and showed grit. Netherseal certainly deserved their draw, they're a good sporting team, but it wasn't a 4-4 thriller it was as Nige said "quite dull to watch". Still, well done for our second half battling (even if quality was lacking for long periods).
