Willenhall Town 0 Gresley Rovers 0

It was a good measure of the progress made by Willenhall this season that they were left disappointed after failing to take advantage of 10 men Gresley last night.

The league leaders came to Noose Lane boasting a 100% league and cup record, yet the Moatmen left the West Midlands more than happy with a point after the Red’s laid siege to the Derbyshire side’s goal for more than a hour after hot head Liam Hebbord’s early dismissal.

Willenhall took the game to Rovers from the start and a succession of early free kick’s put pressure on the visitor’s goal. A quickly taken set piece saw Jason Smith’s low cross into the area pick out the giant frame of John Quilt, but as the striker feigned to go one way, the defender stuck to his task and the attempt to play in Karl Edwards was foiled.

Two further free kicks, centrally placed, had Rovers again on the back foot, but once again, disciplined defending saw Quilt’s two shots charged down by the Gresley wall.

As play switched to the other end, Hebbord’s rash challenge on Damian Whitcome earned the midfielder a yellow card and four minutes later that was added to by a second when the same two players clashed on the halfway line and a scything tackle left the Willenhall left back in some distress.

Down to ten men, surprisingly Gresley seemed to get more adventurous and some slack defensive play allowed Justin Rowe to attack Nathan Vaughan’s goal with the keeper bravely smothering at the Gresley striker’s feet.

Defender Richard Colwell found himself in some space at the back post for a free header that should have been on target at least and the same player then had a shot blocked as Rover’s were guilty of allowing the right back time to exploit the acres of space on that flank.

The second half continued in the same style. Willenhall frantically searching for a way through and Gresley defending professionally. Mark Swann, then Nathan Jackson adding to the night’s frustration by firing good opportunities way over the crossbar.

In the end, Rover’s held out for the draw with the Red’s finally running out of ideas in front of goal to ensure a rare Noose Lane goal less score line.

Willenhall Town travel to basement club Stocksbridge Park Steels on Saturday. Kick off 3pm.

Russell Brown
Willenhall Town Press/Programme Editor

Gresley Report

On a pitch, which can only be described as the worst Gresley has played on for a long, long while rock hard, bobbly and very dusty skilful flowing football was not going to be evident from either side. Add to that the up-and-under direct attacking methods of the home side and some Oscar winning diving and rolling about on the pitch and down to 10 men after just 26 minutes it was going to be a tough away game for Gresley Rovers. Willenhall chose to kick off with a stiff wind at their backs and were soon testing Dale Belford in the visitor's goal with a deflected shot from John Quilt on 15 minutes and then 8 minutes later Belford again dealt easily with a header. The talking point came on 26 minutes when, after a superb Oscar winning performance by Damian Whitcombe rolling in agony for all he was worth referee Mr Tarry showed Liam Hebberd a second yellow card - he'd been booked earlier for a tackle on the same player. How the young striker came to leave the field is a complete mystery as both players went for a 50-50 ball with Hebberd reaching the ball first. Even though they were down to 10 men Gresley made the first real attempt on goal. Aaron O'Connor made a superb run down the right before the ball was scrambled for a corner. Sean Gummer took the flag kick and Town's keeper Nathan Vaughan fumbled the cross and the ball fell to Justin Rowe who was unlucky to see his shot fly just over the bar. Rowe went close just a minute later when he raced into the box but Vaughan managed to block the ball as the striker attempted to go around him. Within four minutes of the re-start a scramble in the Gresley area allowed Karl Edwards to fire well over when very well placed. A superb tackle by man-of-the-match Jamie Hood denied Quilt a chance on 57 minutes as Willenhall applied pressure on the Gresley defence. Gresley managed to push out of defence and almost caught the Town knapping on 67 minutes when O'Connor's shot was tipped over the bar by Vaughan and then two minutes later from a Gummer corner O'Connor headed fractionally wide. On 78 minutes Town went close after playing a short corner the ball found Nathan Jackson but his shot went over. The final say went to Town with just nine minutes on the clock but Mark Swann fired well wide. This was a very gutsy performance by 10 men Gresley against a side that will probably win more than they lose in this league.
What their Manager thought.
"We've worked on a 10 men shape in training and we looked very solid and we restricted them to very few opportunities in the second half. "I like to play some nice attacking football but from the start you couldn't play on that surface. It was very bobbly and I've watched a couple of games here this season and it was exactly that type of game. I've already said that this game would not be pretty and I was true to my word. "It was not a great game tonight but we've got a magnificent result against a side unbeaten. Credit to the players who were fantastic in the second half an we restricted them to no clear cut chances and we could have even nicked it on the break ourselves - so I'm very happy with the point. "I've just said to the players I don't you to stop getting stuck in -there were some magnificent tackles in there. We were a little lightweight in certain areas last season but I've gone out and got players that will do that for us. All I'm asking the players is to be sensible about things. Liam was a little naïve diving in when he was on a yellow card when the ball was on the halfway line and that was a silly one. I have no problems with yellow cards for honest endeavours but we've got to cut down on these silly red cards."