Pre-season friendly
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 5th August 2006, 3.00pm
Moatmen back to winning ways
Gresley Rovers were made to work very hard for their victory against a hardworking and determined Mickleover Sports.
With less than a minute on the clock Gresley went close to opening the scoring when Steve Gomm planted his header just over the bar.
However, Sports took the lead two minutes later when Sean Gummer made good progress down the right before sending over a cross that the unmarked Paul Steven headed powerfully home from the edge of the box.
The visitors could have doubled their score on 7 minutes when Tommy Leighton fired in a fine free kick that Gresley keeper Tommy Whittle did well to save.
On 17 minutes Gresley were level. Ravi Sangha did well to control the ball just inside the box before sidestepping Sports keeper Steve Smith and smashing the ball home.
New signing Andy Spencer then made it two for the Moatmen on 32 minutes with an unusual goal. A high cross found Spencer at the far post and he chested the ball over the head of Smith and into the top corner.
Four minutes later Sangha made a good run down the left and his cross was met by Carl Slater who fired in a volley that went just wide.
On 39 minutes Gresley were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area but Matt Millns unfortunately his header was well saved by Smith.
The play then swung to the other end were Marc Strzyzgwski was unlucky to see his header go wide.
Millns went close again on the stroke of halftime. He connected with Tom Betteridge's cross but the header clipped the outside of the post with Smith beaten.
Sports came out for the second period as determined as the first and went close to equalising on 56 minutes when David Middleditch hit a superb shot that Whittle did well to block. Unfortunately there were no Sports player able to pick up the rebound.
Whittle was in action again ten minutes later making a tremendous save preventing Anthony Tansley's 20-yrd screamer from levelling the scores.
On 72 minutes there was a bizarre piece of refereeing. Edwards had slotted the ball home but referee Mr Wright felt there was a Gresley player in an offside position and disallowed the goal. But, after consulting with his young assistant, who had not flagged the offence, decided to award the goal The Sports players were furious and crowded around the referee who then changed his mind yet again and made the comical decision of awarding a drop ball on the edge of the Sports penalty area.
Nicky Carter almost got himself on the score sheet four minutes later when he almost beat Smith with a lob but the keeper did very well to get a finger tip to the ball and push it away for a corner.
Sports Matt McCaul put his header over the bar and on 86 minutes a quick free kick caught the Gresley defence knapping and Middleditch's cross from the left flashed across the home goalmouth.
On 87 minutes a Leighton cross found Strzyzgwski but the header went sailing over the bar.
Gresley finished off the game on 90 minutes when a fine move down the left by Richard Lonsdale ended with a low cross into the box were Edwards was waiting to slide the ball home.
