UniBond League Division One
The Ashley Travel Stadium, Skelmersdale
Saturday, 16th December 2006, 3.00pm
Away win for the Moatmen
Gresley manager Gary Norton put recent signings Barry Woolley and Liam Hebberd straight into the starting line-up with Matt Millns on the bench after recovering from an ankle knock and striker Aaron O'Connor out through injury.
Although Gresley made the better chances in the first period it was Skelmersdale who went closest to taking the lead when on 7 minutes Mark Byrne's cross was not cleared leaving Carl Osman with a free header unfortunately the ball was just a fraction too high for him resulting in the attempt going wide.
Gresley went close on 13 minutes when Carl Slater hammered a low long-range shot that keeper Terry McCormick did well to push away. Minutes later Shaun Ridgway had a good shot blocked by a defender.
On 23 minutes a mistake by Mark Smith handed the initiative to Byrne who then sent Mike Douglas through on goal but the striker, with only keeper Tommy Whittle to beat, blew his chance to give his side the lead.
Paul Edwards, back in the starting line-up for Gresley almost opened his account on 26 minutes. Nick Carter sent over a superb cross but the striker's header went just wide of the far post with McCormick beaten.
Two minutes later Barry Woolley went even closer when he clattered the bar with a header from Smith's corner.
Skelmersdale looked vulnerable to set pieces and another corner on 37 minutes, this time taken by Tom Groves, found Woolley who headed the ball back across the goal where Edwards was waiting but McCormick reacted quick enough to block the shot at the expense of a corner.
The home side came out for the second period looking determined and could have taken the lead after just 5 minutes of the re-start.
Byrne sliced the Gresley back line in two with a pinpoint pass to Adam Birchill but instead of trying his luck with a shot he dithered enough trying to pass to a colleague and Gresley snuffed out the chance.
However, Skelmersdale didn't have long to wait because they took the lead just a minute later. Byrne again was the provider of a cross that Osman headed into the net at the near post from the edge of the box.
Gresley hit back quickly and almost got back on terms minutes later when Ridgway's long-range shot whistled just the wrong side of the far post.
On the hour the unfortunate Andy Simpson, who had just got back into the side after injury, hobbled off the pitch with what looked like a recurrence of the same problem with his knee. Tony Hemmings coming on as his replacement.
The changes in formation that were then needed didn't seem to have any adverse effects because Gresley got back on terms 10 minutes later. Awarded a free kick in the centre of the park, Ridgway sent the ball over to Woolley who headed the ball on to Edwards who stabbed the ball home from close in.
Gresley were unlucky to have a decent penalty shout waved away by the referee when Carter's cross into the box looked to have hit the arm of defender James Glendenning.
Some hesitant defending by Gresley almost gave the home side the lead again on 80 minutes when Byrne's corner was not dealt with. The ball found Steve Rimmer who smashed his shot into the side netting at the near post.
Gresley grabbed all three points with just nine minutes remaining. Carl Slater played a tremendous through ball into the path of Hebberd and the striker resumed his career for the Moatmen in style by scoring a terrific goal lifting the ball over the onrushing McCormick.
Just has the points looked secured Gresley had a couple more late scares deep in stoppage time when Osman's header hit a post and then Glendenning almost getting on the end of the impressive Byrne's cross.
Manager's View
"We were a bit fortunate to grab all three points but I'm delighted how the lads reacted after going a goal down.
"I was very pleased with how we settled and started the game, and I thought we bossed the first half.
"We had one or two half chances and one or two clear cut ones, and the one thing I was critical of in the first half was our decision making in the final third.
"However, we then didn't get going in the second half and got punished for it. I thought my full back (Nicky Carter) could have put more pressure on to stop the cross and I have to ask questions of my goalkeeper with it being a header inside the six yard box.
"The equaliser was against the run of play. It was a very scrappy goal but I was pleased for Paul Edwards.
The winner came from probably the best bit of football we played in the second half and it keeps our little run going."
