Pre-Season Friendly
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 10th August 2013, 3.15pm
Gresley In Final Pre-Season Defeat
Gresley's mixed pre-season ended in a disappointingly heavy defeat at the hands of Evo-Stik Division One North outfit Bamber Bridge.
If this game was to be taken as a yardstick for the league campaign, which starts next Saturday, it showed quite alarmingly that Gresley has still a lot of hard work to do as they were comfortably beaten in the end.
After a superb start to the game scoring with less than a minute on the clock the possibility of a good end to the pre-season proved to be a false dawn for the home side as Bridge dominated the game from thereon in.
Bridge were finding their players with ease as Gresley struggled to the same with passes either missing their men or going straight to the opposition and it looked just a matter of time before the visitors found the back of the Gresley net.
Gresley were missing several players with Rob Spencer still suffering from a dead-leg, Jordan Nadat a back injury, with Gary Hateley, Marc Goodfellow and Danny Holmes all unavailable.
The start could not have been better for the Moatmen as a flowing move down the left ended with Richard Hanslow put the ball through for John Guy who slipped it under the Bridge keeper Lee Dovey.
That proved to be Gresley one and only attempt on target with Bridge taking control putting the Gresley defence almost under constant pressure for the rest of the game.
Young keeper Alex Townsend was called into action making a fine save from Lennie Reid. More Bridge corners came and went but Bridge pressed forward with substitute Alistair Waddecar firing a low shot inches wide if the far post.
Bridge forced more corners but Gresley managed to hang on until half time still holding on to their slender lead.
The visitors made several players at the break and they seemed to strengthen the side giving Gresley even more problems. The lead lasted just two more minutes as Bridge equalised very early in the second half. A free kick on the left was not cleared and eventually the ball came out to Matty Kay in acres of space and he was able to pick his spot driving his shot into the top far corner of the net. Townsend then produced two fine blocks in succession as Bridge threatened to take a deserved lead.
Gresley then had a glimmer of hope when a rare venture forward ended with Dean Oliver firing narrowly over the bar.
Bridge took the lead just after the hour mark when another good passing move ended with Waddecar sending over a tempting ball into the box and Greg Johnstone rose un challenged to power his header past Townsend.
The third goal for the visitors came when a free kick was awarded on the edge of the area and substitute Andy Bell beat the wall and tucked his shot into the top corner with Townsend helpless.
The final goal of the game was a soft one when a Gresley defender got the merest of touches on the Bridge player as he burst into the box and the referee gave the penalty. Bell took the kick sending Townsend the wrong way.
There was no disputing the score-line however disappointing but Gresley will need to play a whole lot better next Saturday if they want to get their league campaign off to a winning start.
Manager's View
"I'm disappointed with that. I've been away for a week or so but chatting to Steve Titterton and Richard Butler things seemed to have been alright but obviously we were playing two lesser teams.
"I felt we were sharp today from the kick-off and got the early goal but Bamber Bridge always seemed to be one step ahead of us. I thought we defended quite well and didn't really give them any clear cut opportunities and we knew that players like Dean Oliver and James Jepson needed another ninety-minutes so we always knew they'd be struggling a bit but they needed to get pitch time in and that's what they got.
"It was a bit disappointing especially the first and second goal then just after that Dean Oliver had two great chances when he was played through but unfortunately he didn't put them in the back of the net. That would have made it three two and a different game. The players get a bit disheartened when the ball doesn't go in the net.
"Mickey Lyons came on and I thought he did okay. A few of his passes where a bit short but if they'd have gone through we'd have had people in on goal again.
"Bridge had a tempo about the game and they got the ball, moved it quickly and we were struggling. Danny Holmes was not available, Rob Spencer has still got a slight dead-leg and Marc Goodfellow was missing and they are three big players and they make a big difference for us but the younger players have come in and are doing well and are learning fast. We'll be fine for next Saturday.
"We'll have everyone available for next Saturday. It was just unfortunate that Danny was not available due to his commitments with Derby County. Gary Hateley is back for next week so everyone will be available which will be very interesting for me.
"Before I went away I was talking to four players and those conversations have continued. We are still looking for a central defender but unfortunately we haven't got the money to bring any better centre halves in. That's the way it is at the moment. If we had the money we could do it straight away but we haven't so what we are trying to do is to find that player we can afford and is good enough but we still haven't got that player."
