Gresley Rovers vs Buxton
Due to horrific traffic problems that delayed many of the Buxton players the kick off eventually took place at 8.35pm.
From the start Gresley applied the pressure and on 4 minutes Chris Gray opened their account. Andy Bourne put the midfielder through with an inch perfect pass and he made no mistake as he slotted the ball past the Bucks keeper Jonathon Scargill.
Buxton had their first chance of the match on 15 minutes when Ian Bluck sold a short pass to his keeper, which was picked up by Adam Marsh, but his attempted lob went well over the bar.
On 21 minutes Jamie Barrett had a shot saved by Scargill after some good work by Bourne and Gray.
At the other end James Lindley did well to push a shot by Richard Mason from 25 yards out for a corner.
Craig Hopkins was beginning to control the midfield and on 30 minutes he got Gresley second goal. Ian Bluck fired in a ferocious shot that Scargill parried and Hopkins was the quick to react and coolly slotted the ball home.
Two minutes later another through ball by Bourne enabled Gray to run in on goal but his final shot was easily dealt with by the visiting keeper.
On 34 minutes a fine run by Gray ended with a low pass across the face of the goal which only need a touch by the on rushing Gary Smith but the striker failed to connect.
Gresley went three up on 39 minutes. Barrett released Richard Wardle down the right and when his cross was only half cleared Hopkins was on hand to smash in his second goal of the evening.
On 41 minutes Gresley were awarded a free kick just outside the area. Gary White hit a vicious shot that Scargill did extremely well to hold on to.
The second half started much the same as the first with Gresley making all the running.
On 47 minutes a mazy run by Hopkins into the box ended with his shot being deflected for a corner.
Eight minutes later Bourne's flicked header was collected by Gray but he put his shot wide.
On 59 minutes some good work between Gray and Smith resulted in Smith laying the ball into Hopkin's path and his first time shot looked certain to be his hat trick but was somehow saved by Scargill.
Bourne had a chance on 61 minutes but shot wide and on 70 minutes Smith headed down the ball for White whose shot flew over the bar.
Gresley were putting the Buxton defence under sustained pressure and that pressure finally told on 78 minutes.
Paul Tomlinson, who had replaced Bourne, powerfully headed home a cross from Barrett for Gresley's fourth goal of the game.
Two minutes later a free kick by substitute Michael Crawford was well saved by Scargill as Gresley looked to add to Buxton's miserable night.
Smith did well to provide an opportunity for Barrett as the visitors began to tire and on 85 minutes Tomlinson was through on goal but scuffed his shot wide of the upright.
Tomlinson was unlucky on 87 minutes when he saw his shot crash against the post roll along the line and away to safety.
Right on the full time whistle a cross from White was put over by Mark Peters.
The manager's view
"I thought they did well tonight. They set about it right and it was all about how we started. They started well and took it up from there really and I was pleased with them.
" We played some good football at times and we knocked the ball around. No disrespect to them but I don't think they were like the opposition we usually play against. They weren’t as strong and that allowed us to play the game we wanted to play and get a bit of confidence.
"I thought Craig Hopkins had a great game not only did he score goals but he came into his own and ran the game. I was very pleased with him.
"When Tomlinson came on, and he does it all the time, he got himself into scoring positions like he did at the end when he hit the post. He stuck it out wide and nine times out of ten any other of our players would have stood and watched and admired the ball they'd just played out wide. He didn't. He got himself into the box and hit the post with his shot. That's what he does, he goes and gets into those positions and areas and that's what I've been trying to get into the lads to go and get themselves into position and the ball will be delivered rather than waiting for the ball to be delivered an then try to get on the end of it because it's very difficult to score like that.
"I thought the midfield and the strikers had a great game. The back three did better than they did on Saturday but I still think we're learning and that we can do better than what we did. Overall I was really pleased with them.
"Ian Bluck came off because he's got a bit of a sore back and Richard Wardle came off with a sore ankle but we were just about to change it and move it around a bit and give the lads that were on the bench a bit of a run.
"Neil Kitching should be back for Saturday. He was sent home from work this morning with a touch of the flu. Fingers crossed he'll be fit."
Gresley Rovers (3) 4
Buxton (0) 0
Scorers: Gray 4, Hopkins 30, 39, Tomlinson 78.
Gresley Rovers: Lindley, Bluck (Crawford 70), A Cheetham, Gray, Parkinson, Wardle (Peters 61), Barrett, Hopkins, Bourne (Tomlinson 70), Smith, G White.
Buxton: Scargill, Pinder (Lewis 51), Mason, Wood, Hutchinson (Francis 45), Willis, Holmes, Flaherty (Wright 62), March, C Cheetham, Calvin.
Rovers Star Man: Craig Hopkins – ran the show from midfield.
Attendance: 175
