Post by ianwilliams483 on May 7, 2011 21:12:38 GMT
GRESLEY FC.........1 (Slater 24)
GMWFC................0
First defeat in 9 games aids Gresley title triumph
The Miners, the Championship denied them by earlier recent results, were hoping to finish as high as they could and a possible runners-up spot. A defeat for the Moatmen would have meant an anxious wait to be crowned Champions. With so much riding on the outcome, it was not a classic game by any stretch of the imagination, but both sides had a lot depending on the result and the visitors took the game to their hosts determined not to roll over and hand the Derbyshire side the title easily.
The home side started a shade nervously but created a chance after just two minutes when David Blenkinsopp's run down the right ended with a cross that Tom Betteridge on the far post met cleanly, but his header flew wide of the post. On 11 minutes it took a smart save from Gresley keeper Gary Hateley to prevent the Miners taking the lead ahead after Jamie Barrett had flicked a header from a long throw-in by Corey Nightingale towards the top corner of his own goal. They went even closer three minutes later but this time it was the woodwork that denied them. A corner from Jamie Brown was met by the head of Warren Hatfield that crashed back off the bar. The same player could have had a fair penalty claim turned down as he was bundled over approaching goal. This referee on this day on this occasion was never going to give any contentious decisions.
Somewhat against the run of play Gresley grabbed that all important goal. In the 24th minute Woodall slipped the ball onto skipper Carl Slater who hammered a low 20-yard volley that bounced over the despairing dive of keeper Ross Cherry to put the home side ahead. Two minutes later Danny Holmes almost doubled the advantage but fired the wrong side of an upright.
Gresley finished the first half strongly and went close of adding goals before the break. Lee Barrow went close heading Holmes's corner towards goal only to see his effort cleared off the line by Chris Hall and then Holmes saw his attempt also cleared off the line on the stroke of half time.
The Yellow and Blues opened the second half by going close as Nightingale headed Brown's free kick just over the bar with barely a minute of the half on the clock. On 56 minutes Slater went close to doubling his tally when Royce Turville laid the ball back but the shot cannoned off the base of the far upright and ran across the goal line and out for a goal kick. Gedling responded in kind and a good cross from Dave Marlow was flicked on by the head of Matt Peberday fractionally wide of the far post. Barrett also went close with a header but his effort from Holmes' corner flew wide.
The perfect ending for the fanatical home supprt was almost written in injury time as Brian Woodall, playing his final game before joining FL2 professionals Dagenham & Redbridge, was put through, skinned two Gedling defenders for pace and, after beating Cherry, was unlucky to see his shot hit the outside of the near post.
Jubilant scenes greeted the final whistle and the Gresley squad were presented with the League trophy in front of the highest crowd in their history, a remarkable 651.
The Miners more than contributed to a fine game of football with Danny Hayes and Ash Winfield having particularly fine games. The front two gave the Gresley defence problems at times and the whole playing squad should be commended in the way that they set about their task. GMWFC won many admirers and plaudits on a day which was a fine advert for the EMCL.
Ref: Mr T.Walker (Belper)
Att: 651
Gresley FC:~ Hateley, Barrett, Gough, Barrow, Langford, Slater (C) Woodall, Holmes, Turville (Spencer 64) Blenkinsopp (Lyons 79) T.Betteridge (A.Betteridge 90)
Subs not used:~ Woolley, Butler.
Gedling Miners:~ Cherry, Corrigan, Nightingale(C) Hayes, Hall, Brown, Marlow (Boulton 81) Winfield, Roberts (Cox 56) Hatfield, Peberday.
Subs not used~: Smith, Payne, Westwood.
GMWFC................0
First defeat in 9 games aids Gresley title triumph
The Miners, the Championship denied them by earlier recent results, were hoping to finish as high as they could and a possible runners-up spot. A defeat for the Moatmen would have meant an anxious wait to be crowned Champions. With so much riding on the outcome, it was not a classic game by any stretch of the imagination, but both sides had a lot depending on the result and the visitors took the game to their hosts determined not to roll over and hand the Derbyshire side the title easily.
The home side started a shade nervously but created a chance after just two minutes when David Blenkinsopp's run down the right ended with a cross that Tom Betteridge on the far post met cleanly, but his header flew wide of the post. On 11 minutes it took a smart save from Gresley keeper Gary Hateley to prevent the Miners taking the lead ahead after Jamie Barrett had flicked a header from a long throw-in by Corey Nightingale towards the top corner of his own goal. They went even closer three minutes later but this time it was the woodwork that denied them. A corner from Jamie Brown was met by the head of Warren Hatfield that crashed back off the bar. The same player could have had a fair penalty claim turned down as he was bundled over approaching goal. This referee on this day on this occasion was never going to give any contentious decisions.
Somewhat against the run of play Gresley grabbed that all important goal. In the 24th minute Woodall slipped the ball onto skipper Carl Slater who hammered a low 20-yard volley that bounced over the despairing dive of keeper Ross Cherry to put the home side ahead. Two minutes later Danny Holmes almost doubled the advantage but fired the wrong side of an upright.
Gresley finished the first half strongly and went close of adding goals before the break. Lee Barrow went close heading Holmes's corner towards goal only to see his effort cleared off the line by Chris Hall and then Holmes saw his attempt also cleared off the line on the stroke of half time.
The Yellow and Blues opened the second half by going close as Nightingale headed Brown's free kick just over the bar with barely a minute of the half on the clock. On 56 minutes Slater went close to doubling his tally when Royce Turville laid the ball back but the shot cannoned off the base of the far upright and ran across the goal line and out for a goal kick. Gedling responded in kind and a good cross from Dave Marlow was flicked on by the head of Matt Peberday fractionally wide of the far post. Barrett also went close with a header but his effort from Holmes' corner flew wide.
The perfect ending for the fanatical home supprt was almost written in injury time as Brian Woodall, playing his final game before joining FL2 professionals Dagenham & Redbridge, was put through, skinned two Gedling defenders for pace and, after beating Cherry, was unlucky to see his shot hit the outside of the near post.
Jubilant scenes greeted the final whistle and the Gresley squad were presented with the League trophy in front of the highest crowd in their history, a remarkable 651.
The Miners more than contributed to a fine game of football with Danny Hayes and Ash Winfield having particularly fine games. The front two gave the Gresley defence problems at times and the whole playing squad should be commended in the way that they set about their task. GMWFC won many admirers and plaudits on a day which was a fine advert for the EMCL.
Ref: Mr T.Walker (Belper)
Att: 651
Gresley FC:~ Hateley, Barrett, Gough, Barrow, Langford, Slater (C) Woodall, Holmes, Turville (Spencer 64) Blenkinsopp (Lyons 79) T.Betteridge (A.Betteridge 90)
Subs not used:~ Woolley, Butler.
Gedling Miners:~ Cherry, Corrigan, Nightingale(C) Hayes, Hall, Brown, Marlow (Boulton 81) Winfield, Roberts (Cox 56) Hatfield, Peberday.
Subs not used~: Smith, Payne, Westwood.
