Clevedon Town vs Gresley Rovers
This 0 – 0 result summed the match up as both sides had chances to win but failed to convert the chances they had.
Manager Jon Newsome made a couple of changes giving both Ryan Yearsley and Carl Timms the nod over Neil Kitching and Matt Moran.
Gresley started brightly as they have done in quite a few others this season, but faded away alarmingly after the first 20 minutes or so and the home side were no better as this end-of-season game spiralled into a dour stalemate.
Neither side looked capable of breaking the deadlock with the exception of a Chris Gray free kick and an embarrassing miss by Clevedon.
Gresley’s first and possibly best effort of the game came on 6 minutes. They were awarded a free kick which was taken by Gary White. Earl Alexander seized the chance to get onto the ball which he controlled extremely well before firing in a vicious shot from 30 yards that grazed the top of home keeper Dave Mogg’s crossbar.
On 8 minutes Jamie Barrett was set up after some fine work by Alexander and Richard Wardle but the young midfielder could only fire his shot straight at Mogg.
The visitor’s had a good shout for a penalty waved away two minutes later after Alexander had caused the home defence enormous problems and made a fine run down the left before passing to Craig Hopkins. Hopkins fed the ball out to Timms who had run into the area before being scythed down by Rob Scott.
On 18 minutes Yearsley went close to opening the scoring on his full debut when he got the better of Scott in the air but as he raced to the ball Mogg was a fraction quicker to the ball and he did well to smother the ball at the striker’s feet.
The next chance fell to Hopkins who hit a thunderous shot that looked a goal all the way until Mogg superbly pushed the ball away with no Gresley player available to get the rebound.
That was basically it for the first half as Gresley and Clevedon cancelled each other out as the game was largely played out in midfield with any Gresley attacks fizzling out in the final third.
The hardy 170 watchers surely hoped for something to take their minds off the awful weather in the second half but sadly it didn’t materialise.
Gresley made a promising move with Timms being put through by Alexander on the right but his final cross was poor and the move faded away.
On 52 minutes Clevedon had a rare glimmer of a chance when they had been awarded a corner. Giuseppe Sorbara swung in the ball which was met by Arthur Appleton but his header was well blocked by Gresley defender Stuart Evans.
Ten minutes later Yearsley almost got on the end of a ball from Hopkins but Mogg grabbed the ball easily.
On 77 minutes Gresley were awarded a free kick just outside of the area but Gray’s shot was grabbed just under the bar by Mogg.
Then, on 87 minutes the home side had a glorious chance to grab an undeserved win but a most embarrassing miss by Appleton prevented it. Scott had made headway down the left and sent in a cross to the far post for the waiting Appleton. With only Gresley keeper Mark Sheils to beat he inexplicably lashed at the ball sending it miles wide of an open goal.
Clevedon Town (0) 0
Gresley Rovers (0) 0
Clevedon Town: Mogg, Pace, Bryant, Lester, Jefferies, Scott
, Vickerman (Ball 58), Zabek, Walsh, Appleton, Sorbara (Wyatt 58). Subs not used: Santon, Harris, Mason.
Gresley Rovers: Sheils, Alexander (Moran 77), G White, Wardle, Evans, Cheetham, Barrett, Hopkins, Yearsley, Gray, Timms (Kitching 68). Subs not used: Newsome, Lindley (gk).
Rovers Star Man: Stuart Evans – marshalled a strong back line.
Referee : R A Martin (Wilton).
Attendance: 170
