Evo-Stik NPL Division One South
Greenfields Sports Ground, Greenfields Lane, Market Drayton, Shropshire
Saturday, 27th October 2012, 3.00pm
Spencer On Target Again
This game was in total contrast to the one at Kings Lynn in midweek but Gresley dug deep to win a scrappy game through Rob Spencer's 70th minute strike.
Managers Gary Norton and Martin Rowe made just one change from Tuesday with Marc Goodfellow, who missed the long trip to Norfolk, replacing Mickey Lyons who was at a wedding.
New signing Jordan Nadat was given a place on the bench alongside Matt Roome, Aaron Dillon, Richard Butler and Ben Minshull.
Gresley had already beaten Town at the Moat Ground in the first game of the season and were looking to complete their first double although the side they faced today was very much changed from their previous encounter.
Playing into a stiff breeze Gresley were soon having to defend with Martyn Davies planting a soft header which Gresley keeper Gary Hateley held low down at his near post.
Gresley hit back with a good move involving Goodfellow, Richard Hanslow and Spencer with the latter hitting a show wide of the far post.
Hateley needed to be alert pushing Davies's shot away for a corner and minutes later tipping a stinging shot over the bar from Kyle Blake as Town threatened.
The home side forced five corners in succession with Matt Johnson shooting over from a good position and then former Football League striker Adam Proudlock bringing out another good block by Hateley.
Goodfellow then made a good run down the left and crossed into the box and Spencer was only inches away from connecting as he ran in at the near post.
Proudlock brought out another good save from Hateley as he hit a low shot on the turn which the Gresley keeper did well to deal with at his near post. Hanslow then hit a low shot himself at the other end but it flew wide of the far post.
Town forced two early second half corners but it was Gresley who went close to opening the scoring when Hanslow's run down the left ended with a low shot which was blocked by keeper Matt Cohen at his near post.
Goodfellow also went close minutes later but his curling shot from the right eased past the far post. A James Jepson free kick was deflected over the bar and from the resultant corner also taken by Jepson eventually came out to Hanslow who's first time shot was cleared off the line by Paul McMullen.
Gresley took the lead on 70 minutes and it was a little bit fortunate. A ball was fed out to Spencer who seemed to scuff his shot and Cohen, normally a defender replacing regular keeper Damien Stevens who unluckily fractured his collar bone against Chasetown in midweek, appeared to go down in instalments and the ball squirted into the far corner of the net.
Cohen had to work hard again this time to block substitute Nadat's shot from Gough's cross. While at the other end Johnson had his shot cleared off the line as the home side tried to at least salvage a point and keep their unbeaten run going. Goodfellow could have doubled the visitors' advantage late on but fired his shot wide.
Manager's View
"We need to be grounding out results on a more regular basis. The last couple of Saturdays we've not given ourselves a chance really. We struggled to get a foothold in those games but they have been punctuated with two fine performances, the one against Halesowen and of course the other night against Kings Lynn.
"We've been talking a long time now trying to find that consistency of performance. Whilst we didn't get out of third gear today against a side that's been on a good run and are well organised and well disciplined we had that bit of a break today to nick the three points. When I say nick I thought we earned the three points with the chances but it was a bit frustrating as we had a few bits that fell in the box and a few other chances and the quality in the final third at time left us a little disappointed if you reflect on it but at the end of the day we go back with three points and we're really pleased with that.
"Rob Spencer's goal perhaps wasn't the best but they all count. I thought young Jordan Nadat was going to get his foot round it and then Robbie got in there and I think it hit the keeper on the way through but ultimately it's gone over the line and into the net and it gave us something to hold on to.
"I thought we defended for the most part, there was a couple of times in the second half when we lost our shape a little bit when they were putting pressure on us but overall. Gary Hateley made a good save with his feet but in the second half I don't think he had much to do save wise although they did put us under a lot of pressure with balls into the box.
"Both Sam Woods and Jordan Nadat looked bright. I only heard about Sam's performance in midweek and he's impressed me today very tidy. There were a couple of things in the first half where he could be a little tighter on his winger or he got beaten a little too easily but I'm nit picking there really. I was really pleased with what we saw and he gives us a nice balance and that's enabled us to release Jamie Barrett into midfield. Mickey Lyons was not available today as he's at a wedding so Jamie has had another game in there and I thought for long periods of the game he did very, very well in there.
"We also got Jordan on the pitch and when he went on he looked lively and he's going to give us options in behind teams because we haven't got that much pace up front. I know from the past that Jordan is an asset whether as left back or left wing so he gives us that versatility. We gave him the chance and he's a nice lad and we hope he settles into the squad and we'll see how things happen with him."
