Evo-Stik NPL Division One South
The Bill Stokeld Stadium, Stoke Lane, Gedling, Nottingham
Wednesday, 22nd August 2012, 7.45pm
Gresley Hold On For Three Points
Gresley had to work hard for their three points against Carlton Town who are regarded as one of the favourites to take the league title this season.
For much of the game Gresley were made to defend as Carlton applied the pressure but without the end product and the home side were punished as the visitors scored with one of their two shots on goal.
On a pitch with the grass a little on the long side both sides found it difficult to play passing football and had to resort to the long ball. However, it was Carlton who had the first of two good chances on 22 minutes when Ian Brown saw the Gresley keeper a little off his line and tried a lob from distance which saw Gary Hateley racing back to tip the effort over the bar.
Two minutes later they should have taken the lead. Brown found himself in the perfect position but embarrassingly skied his shot well over the bar.
Town were to rue those misses as Gresley went ahead on 36 minutes. James Jepson laid the ball on for Phil Massingham who hit a superb looping shot which sailed over the keeper Martin Kearney's head and into the far top corner of the net.
Carlton then pinned Gresley back in their own half as they tried to get back on terms before the break but a combination of good defending and poor finishing prevented them from doing so.
Dean Oliver went close with a lob which just cleared the bar within a minute of the second half but again Carlton hit back and were unlucky not to have levelled things on 49 minutes when a terrific scissor kick from Ryan Whitehurst crashed back off the bar.
It was Gresley's turn to be denied by the woodwork when Jepson's 25 yard free kick left Kearney rooted to the spot but the upright came to the keeper's rescue.
The visitors had to defend for all they were worth as wave after wave of attacks from Carlton forced Gresley deeper into their own half for the final ten minutes or so but Gresley managed to hang on.
On 81 minutes Brown had another golden chance to at least get his side a share of the points but he could only fire his shot straight into the midriff of Hateley.
Town substitute also had a good chance but he too could only touch the ball straight at Hateley. They went close again with just three minutes of normal time remaining when Josh Thornton made a good run down the right before sending over a cross that Brown, sliding in at the near post, could only steer wide.
Gresley managed to hang on to claim all three points something that will not happen too many times at Stoke Lane this season.
Manager's View
Martin Rowe
"I thought we did well on Saturday. Tonight was a completely different game. The grass was quite long which didn't help us and it nullified us in a way so we had to change the tactics a bit.
"I thought we defended really well tonight particularly in the first half and we deserved to be one-nil up. We'd had the majority of the play and reduced Carlton to a lot of long balls which was playing into our hands.
"We knew we were going to be put under pressure in the second half but I felt we dealt with it quite well. They didn't really break us down and we kept our shape well.
"There are players to come in but to be fair the players who have started have done nothing wrong. They are all working as a team and I believe the team spirit is getting us through. We know we can improve but it takes a bit of time. I think fitness told a bit tonight as well so that's something esle we need to work on but we couldn't be happier - two wins.
"Unfortunately, Marc Goodfellow is away on holiday which is a bit disappointing but I thought Rob Spencer has come in and done really well tonight like when he came on on Saturday and changed the game for us and scored a goal. Rob's work rate is what you want on a night like tonight.
"We've not got to be over confident about Saturday but we might make a few changes and give the players who haven't been playing recently but it will be hard to leave anybody out after tonight's performance because it was a good team effort."
