GRESLEY manager Gary Norton thinks winger Marc Goodfellow could be about to take his game up a gear.
The 30-year-old former Burton Albion Blue Square Premier title winner has added class to the Moatmen this season after their promotion to the Midland Alliance.
He grabbed a brace last week in the controversial 2-2 draw at Stratford Town and Norton hopes the talented former Stoke City and Bristol City man can fire Gresley to the top of the table.
“I think there’s more to come from Marc,” said the Moat boss. “He was outstanding last week.
“He was everywhere on the pitch and that’s the level we want to see, week in, week out.
“If he can perform like that he’s going to be even more of an asset to us than he already is.
“It was probably one of the best games he’s had for us so far and it was great to have Danny Holmes in there as well.” “They’ve got a good understanding and I hope it’s the start of a good partnership.
“We hope Danny’s influence will bring it out in him.”
Last week’s draw against a rapidly improving and bigspending Stratford outfit was marred by the referee, who amazingly sent Gresley’s Adam Betteridge off for a perfectly good tackle before reducing the Moatmen to nine men with the dismissal of Rob Spencer.
Norton was fuming with official Arif Khalfe after Stratford grabbed a late equaliser — but has since mellowed.
“I would have taken a point beforehand,” he said. “But in the position we were in (2-0 up), it’s disappointing.
“Unfortunately, the ref got embroiled in it. It was very frustrating.
“But the equaliser we conceded with nine men was a soft goal from a free-kick. It doesn’t matter how many men you’ve got, you have to defend set-pieces.
“I’ve had my rant at the ref - he hasn’t done it on purpose and sometimes you get them, sometimes you don’t.”
Gresley take on Tividale at the Moat Ground tomorrow, kick-off 3pm, with Norton predicting another tough encounter against a side whose games in hand give them a false league position in eighth place.
“They’ve played three games less than us,” said the Gresley boss. “And they’re only a handful of points behind.
“Even if they don’t win all those, they’re right in the mix with us. It will be another really tough game.”
There are no injury concerns at the Moat Ground, with Richard Hanslow over a bout of illness.
GRESLEY FROM: Hateley, T Betteridge, Gough, Barrett, Nottingham, Spencer, Lyons, Holmes, Oliver, Turville, Goodfellow, Hanslow, Dillon, Bryant, A Betteridge, Barrow, Langford, Jepson.
