Arnold St Mary's vs Gresley Rovers
Gresley Failed To Exploit Strong Wind
Gresley Rovers lost this Central Alliance game on Saturday because they failed to use the strong wind which repeatedly kept the ball in their opponents' half during the first 45 minutes.
Instead of using the obvious passes, they concentrated on long, high balls over the Arnold goal-line without trouble.
Their defeat, in the end, was a lesson in tactics which Gresley must learn if they want to keep in the top half of the table. Their slowness of thought played right into the hands of Arnold's off side trap.
At half time, Gresley led by the only goal, and a lucky one it was too. Right winger Brian Davies' left foot shot looked innoxious as it went towards the Arnold goal, until it hit centre half Martin and it bounced into the net.
When the second half started the Gresley team came under pressure. Led by ex-Notts Forest winger, Colin Collindridge - still a great player at 41 - Arnold tore gaps in the Gresley defence.
Within minutes they were 3-1 up and there was nothing Gresley's hero, goalkeeper Heire, could do about it.
Although Gresley's centre forward Hallam headed a neat goal in a break away it was too late for Gresley to pull themselves back into the game.
Gresley must surely have learned one lesson - to use the wind when it is to their advantage . A leadoff one goal is not very much if there is a strong wind to be faced in the second half.
Arnold St Mary's: Ironmonger, Molyneux, Groom, Knight, Anthony, Page, Williams, Jefferies, Collindridge.
Gresley Rovers: Heire, Cashmore, Butler, Clarke, Rowe, B Hextall, Davies, J Boulton, Hallam, Fitchett, J Hextall
Referee: WJ Lane (Derby)
