UniBond League Division One South
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Tuesday, 26th February 2008, 7.45pm
Steely Sheffield Far Too Sharp
Even the more ardent supporter of Gresley Rovers would have to admit that Sheffield thoroughly deserved the three points they comfortably picked up at the Moat Ground.
Sheffield were better in all departments; quicker to the ball, threatening up front and to be honest their keeper Daniel Haystead must have had one of the easiest night's this season with hardly any shots for him to deal with.
Rovers were without the services of both Danny Blair and David Blenkinsopp and unfortunately without them the attacking options were severely limited.
Sheffield should have taken an early lead when Vill Powell found himself through on goal but with only the home keeper David Clarke to beat he fired a shot so wide of the mark that it almost hit a corner flag.
Two minutes later Powell's team-mate Jamie Smith went close hitting a low shot fractionally wide of the post.
Rovers were awarded a free kick taken by Dan Douglas and as the ball ricocheted around the box, Paul Edwards almost scrambled the ball home.
The visitors hit back almost immediately with Paul Smith firing wide and Powell's dipping shot just clearing Clarke's bar.
Edwards did have the ball in the net after Stefan Marshall had flicked the ball on but the assistant on the far side flagged the effort offside although it looked as if the striker had run between the defenders after the ball was played.
Sheffield squandered another golden opportunity when Jamie Smith hit a shot so high that it almost cleared the houses behind the top goal.
They didn't have long to wait to take the lead however, because on 37 minutes Gavin Smith powered home a free header from Paul Smith's free kick.
The second half continued as the first had ended with Sheffield on top and on 58 minutes they doubled their advantage. Poor defending allowed Powell to get in behind the Rovers defence and Peter Davey hammered the cross into the roof of the net from close in.
Rovers just could not get their game going and found the visiting defence solid and comfortably dealing with any halfhearted attacks.
Edwards did test Haystead with 11 minutes remaining when he turned on the ball just inside the area but the shot didn't have the power needed and the goal keeper made the save low down to his left.
Clarke denied Sheffield another goal when he saved well but could do nothing to stop Powell from getting on the score sheet after some sloppy defending allowed the striker the easiest of tasks to side foot the ball home deep into time added on.
