Match Photos
Gresley Rovers vs Worcester City
The Reserves produced their best football for some weeks to beat an experienced Worcester City side 4-1 in the ICIS Reserve division at the Moat Ground.
Gareth Burgess came into the starting line up for his first start for the club and Mykey Pryce had to be content with a place on the bench after coming back from a knee injury.
Captain Mickey Sandar played in the unusual position of fullback and capped a fine display with two goals.
The game started brightly with some good quality from both sides but it was Gresley who drew 1st blood when Mickey Sandar received the ball on the half way line going forward. He was fully 40 yards out on the right when he unleashed a screamer that flew into the top left hand corner of the Worcester net leaving keeper Shaun Haynes wondering where the effort came from.
Carl Slater and Carl Timms were winning the midfield battle as time after time they broke up Worcester possession and then got the ball wide to Alexander on the left and Moran on the right.
It was Moran who was causing the city defence the most problems as his direct dribbling and trickery left his marker grasping at thin air on a number of occasions. Alexander too was causing his fair share of problems and between them chances for Ryan Yearsley and Gareth Burgess came and went.
Carl Timms broke through on 21 minutes but was foiled with a last ditch tackle from the experienced Mark Sheil.
City equalized against the run of play after a needless free kick was given away by Nathan Tate. The resultant free kick found John Warman in the box and he was given space to turn and get a shot in which Roberts was unable to get to.
City almost took the lead on 40 minutes when Roberts mishandled and the edge of his box but Mickey Sandar was on hand to produce a goal line clearance from a James Brown shot.
Rovers thought they had taken the lead on 42 minutes when another tricky run down the right from Moran resulted in a fine left foot effort that was parried by the keeper to the feet of Yearsley who shot home but the striker was adjudged to be in an offside position from the original shot.
The second half was as exciting as the first with some excellent passing and moving but all too often Rovers didn't finish things off in the final 3rd. The defence marshalled by Paul Grosse held firm and ensured than any Worcester pressure was dealt with effectively.
Pryce was introduced for Burgess and Moran and Alexander switched sides in order to try and break the deadlock.
Pryce had an immediate effect as he set Yearsley free but his effort was well saved. Yearsley again had an effort well saved as Haynes turned his effort onto the bar.
Gresley took a deserved lead on 82 minutes when a short corner from Alexander found Sandar and the make shift fullback shot home at the near post.
80th minutes substitute Jon Jenkinson came off the bench to score a great 3rd goal after the impressive Carl Slater put him through on goal. Earl Alexander got the 4th in the 89th minute when he cut inside from the right to fire a powerful drive into the net.
1. Ian Roberts
2. Mickey Sandar (c) (2)
3. Nathan Tate
4. Dave Roberts
5. Paul Grosse
6. Carl Timms
7. Matt Moran
8. Carl Slater
9. Ryan Yearsley
10. Gareth Burgess
11. Earl Alexander (1)
12. Mykey Pryce
14 John Jenkinson (1)
15 Greg Smith
