The Don Hill Memorial Trophy
Hillsfield, Rocester
Saturday, 15th July 2006, 3.00pm
Pre-season win for the Moatmen
Gresley Rovers started their pre-season games at Rocester on a sweltering afternoon with the Don Hill Memorial Trophy up for grabs for the victorious side.
Manager Gary Norton made wholesale changes for the second half with only Tommy Whittle and Matt Millns playing the full ninety minutes.
Rocester's recently signed keeper Brad Clarke did not show and so Steve Harris who was to play the second half for Gresley volunteered to go between the sticks for the Romans.
As could be expected with the long hot dry period of weather we are having at present the Hillsfield pitch was rock hard and dusty and but both sides played a competitive game despite few clear-cut chances in the first half which was fairly even.
The visitors had a couple of chances the first 15 minutes the first when Jamie Barrett's shot was deflected over the bar for a corner and then when Paul Edwards was inches away from getting on the end of a Nicky Carter cross.
On 25 minutes a low free kick from Millns went just past the post and minutes later Harris did very well to beat Richard Lonsdale to the ball as the Gresley striker ran onto a mistake from the Rocester defence.
Rocester's best chance came on the half hour but Adam Baum's shot flew just wide of the target.
Harris was the busier of the two keepers and again did extremely well to come off his line quickly to smother Santos's run into the box.
A largely different side took the field for Gresley for the second period with nine changes.
On 59 minutes Gresley took the lead when Andy Spencer's shot took a deflection wrong footing Harris in the Rocester goal.
Both sides seem to be suffering from the intense heat but the game came to life in the final eight minutes.
Rocester got back on terms on 82 minutes went a long high ball from their defence bounced well over Millns's head leaving Sean Price to chip the ball perfectly over the onrushing Whittle and into the net.
Gresley were back in front almost from the re-start. On 83 minutes a vicious shot clattered back off the Rocester bar and Damien Powell was on hand to bang the ball into the back of the nest.
A minute later Gresley attacked again and the ball was only half cleared by the home defenders only as far as Ravi Sangha who smashed his half volley past the helpless Harris.
Rocester almost grabbed a goal back on 86 minutes but Whittle made a good block to deny Richard Owen.
Manager's View
Today wasn't about results or performances but about building upon on the fitness work we have been doing so far in preseason in a game situation. The main aim today was to look at the trialists we have training with us at the moment as well as get most of our existing squad at least 45 minutes of pitch time under their belts. The sweltering conditions meant that we were thankful to be able to practically field a different side with the exception of Matt Millns in the second half.
We took a lot of positives from the game regarding the performances of some of the trialists and we will be looking for more of the same in coming games. One or two players stood out in particular so we are keen to have another look and will have to see how things develop over the next couple of games.
We were also pleased with most of our existing squad who were involved today. The application and work rate were there for all to see and for saying that we had so many new faces in the overall shape of the side in both halves didn't look too bad. If we are to be critical at all of us in any way today then it was the fact that we gave the ball away a little easily on occasion but as I said, today wasn't about performances or results.
I felt that both sides played the game in a good spirit and the fact that there was a trophy up for grabs for the winning side meant that the game had a little more edge to it than any other normal pre-season game would have which made it that little bit more competitive.
Colin Hoyle and Andy Simpson will probably be involved on Wednesday at Gedling Town but we will continue to be without Tom Betteridge, Mickey Lyons and Matt Moran due to them still being away on holiday whilst Aaron O'Connor will not be involved again as he is playing in trial games with Rushden this week.
