UniBond League Division One South
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 29th November 2008, 3.00pm
Battling Rovers Show Determination
Gresley Rovers manager Gary Norton brought some familiar faces back to the Moat Ground fold with Paul Edwards, Carl Timms, Matt Moran and Liam Hebberd all donning the red shirt.
Timms took over the midfield role of Jamie Barrett who succumbed to a hamstring injury during the warm-up with Martyn Rowntree being handed the captain's armband that had earlier been given to Barrett.
Goole forced three corners has they put Rovers under early pressure but it was the home side that took the lead.
On 17 minutes Jordi Gough's ball picked out Edwards in box who put a looping header over keeper Chris Hill and into the net.
However, the lead only lasted two minutes as Willie McGhie made a good run down the left his cross was flicked goalwards by Adam Lee and the header crept in at the far post with the help of the bar.
The play was fairly even with Hebberd proving to be a handful for the visiting defence but Goole went close to extending their lead on 30 minutes. Awarded a free kick, Steve Rollinson received a short pass and his cross was met by Lee who planted his header just wide of the mark.
Hebberd then provided Rovers with a chance with a lofted cross that Oliver Hancock hit wide.
Rovers' keeper Simon Baldwin kept his side in the game making a great save to push McGhie's shot over the bar.
Minutes later Timms made a superb run through the heart of the Vikings' defence but his shot, that seemed to be on target, was at the very last minute deflected wide.
Rovers came out for the second half pushing forward and on 50 minutes Lee Fell managed to get off a rasping shot from just inside the area, despite clearly being held, that Hill could only parry but no Rovers' player was near enough to capitalise.
Arguably the best move of the game came from the home side and ended with Hancock firing the wrong side of the upright.
On the hour Goole then had another good chance that Lee could only put wide when well placed.
The visitors didn't have to wait too long for their second goal as two minutes later former Moatman Stewart Copnell smashed the ball home from close range.
To Rovers' credit although they were visibly tiring they kept pushing forward and Hill had to parry another shot from Fell that warmed his hands. The ball then came out to Edwards who slung over a cross to the far post that looked odds on to be nodded into the unguarded net by Moran but somehow the ball eluded him and the golden chance had gone.
The score was given a very harsh look when Lee got onto the end of a route one clearance by Nigel Danby and slotted the ball across Baldwin and into the far corner.
In injury time McGhie almost scored what would have been a totally unjust fourth goal against a hardworking Rovers when he noticed Baldwin well off his line but his chip hit the bar and thankfully bounced to safety.
Manager's View
"It didn't help losing Jamie Barrett just before the kick-off. Jamie is absolutely gutted he was to captain the side which he would have been very proud of but his hamstring hasn't held up.
"He had to have treatment on Thursday and he felt he would be okay but during the warm-up it became evident that it was going to go. We talked about risking him but there was no point to be honest and by pulling him out hopefully we can get him back probably it won't be next week but hopefully the week after that.
"The story of the ninety minutes was similar to last week apart from the fact we had some very good chances today but we didn't take them.
"Goole had four or five chances and scored three we probably had six or seven and only took the one.
"Fitness wise again you could see at the end our lads were dead on their feet from about seventy minutes onwards which is no criticism of them because we knew that would be the case.
"There were some very good performances out there but you could see Goole had the fitness in their tanks to go ninety minutes plus, we didn't on this occasion.
"A couple of players who I expected not to last the ninety those two Paul Edwards and Liam Hebberd were right up there to be fair.
"We were going to take Kev (Lock) off but Liam signalled to the bench that he was done and that was it because all his efforts had taken its toll on him.
"Paul Edwards did very, very well and put some of his team-mates to shame for saying he's not done anything. You could see what a good player he is and we are thankful to him for contacting us to help us out of this mess and is pleased to do it.
"It's a different type of Paul Edwards that we're seeing at the moment than we saw in the past because he wants to be part of it and he knows there's no reward, no pay for it.
"Although he's only been here today he said to me before the game that he wants to help create that ethic and team spirit that the lads want to play for the club and it was a good performance from him and I'm pleased.
"We don't want the losing mentality here. It's easy to say to the lads 'don't worry we're losing or we've lost the game but don't worry everyone will feel sorry for us because we're not getting paid.' We don't want any of that. If we lose the game as long as they've given one hundred and ten per cent.
"There was a result there for us today. Like last week, for different reasons we didn't quite make it. Today it was frustrating because we had some very good chances.
"Olly Hancock's in the first half springs to mind; Matt Moran, open goal and he doesn't know what he's done wrong there to make it two-two. Lee Fell has forced the keeper into two good saves. We didn't have those chances last week; it was more of a solid defensive performance that should have earned us a point. Today we were worth a point, possibly three on the balance of play.
"Goole was more of a yard stick to where we are. They are in a similar situation to us but a few months down the line so they've had chance to get players in and get them fit and Belper next week is going to be a tough one because they will be there or there abouts in the play-offs this season.
"We are not going to be the whipping boys, we are going to give our everything and be as proud as we can and try and get some points along the way and then take stock at the end of the season."
