December 6th 2008

Gresley Rovers 0 Belper Town 1

A trip to Gresley is never one we look forward to as Nailers fans. Normally because the result is not favourable and also (with all respect) because the ground is a bit of a dump.

We did however travel in hope as Gresley are currently in a crisis whereby they cannot pay the players due to financial difficulties. The loyalty of the players at this level being what it is at some clubs, most left as soon as the money ran out. So Gary Norton has had to cobble together a team from lower league players prepared to play for nothing.

The trip to Gresley is quite straight forward when you know it but can be a nightmare if you don’t. It was my turn to drive and we ended up with a car full as I collected Scribbler and his dad Jack. Andy Carter made up the numbers when the Selby v Mickleover Sports game fell foul of the weather.

We set off on the 40 minutes drive to Church Gresley (not to be confused with Castle Gresley next door). Down the A38, off at the Willington turn (despite Scribbler insisting we should have gone on the A50). Right through Repton and into Woodville. Some disagreement about which turning to take, Andy C saying turn BEFORE the park, Scribbler saying AFTER but it made no odds, we ended up in the place – the scrap of land infront of the ground they laughingly call the car park (although we can hardly complain, ours is a scrap of land behind the goal until the TESCO deal comes through.

We had decided as a committee (well, me and scribbler as Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Ops committee) to donate £50 from the funds to Gresley in their bid to stay afloat. The new chairman seems a decent guy and of course his name is Harrison so he must be ! I was pleased to see that Elvis Gresley was in attendance at the game. I still think we should have a Nobby Nailer at the Meadow

The hospitality at the Moat is set on high. Approached by an external set of steps that only people of a certain mobility can access. Presumably the disabled access rules athat apply to just about everywhere else have not reached Gresley.

As is the norm at Gresley there is a distinct lack of team sheets available, probably because they insist on printing them rather than photocopying them. We seem to have them everywhere at Belper but at the Moat you have to go in search of them cap-in-hand. Dave Ryder said that they only had one in the press box, which was odd. Eventually I tracked one down and we were set for the game.

The sun shone low over the Church Gresley houses so I needed to retire to the shade (and cold) of the far side to be able to take the photographs. A sparse looking crowd ended up as 238 – just 9 short of our best home league attendance this season. A scrappy first half with Belper having more of the chances and really we should have gone in at the break better than 0-0. Gresley look to have put together a half-decent set of players who look proud to be wearing a Gresley shirt.

The second half was more end to end than the first, like a typical cup tie (although obviously this wasn’t a cup tie). Gresley looking the more dangerous early on. Eventually the breakthough came through at the other end when a suspiciously offside looking Ben Walker slide the ball past the Gresley keeper for the only goal of the game.

The game then took an ugly turn when Rovers Liam Hebbard (son of former Rams player Trevor) elbowed Richard Haigh in the throat. A red card for Hebbard and a stretcher for Haighy. Belper held out for the win and could have scored more goals before the final whistle.

The locals were unhappy with the performance of the officials and the alleged ‘play acting’ of the Belper players. After the final whistle there was a definite smell of sour grapes in the air.

A win at Gresley is a rare thing and being scribblers birthday it was even more welcome.

Next up - Glapwell UniBond Division 1 South