Pre-Season Friendly
Kirk Hallam Sports College, Kirk Hallam, Ilkeston
Saturday, 9th July 2011, 12.30pm
Gresley Start With A Win
Gresley began their pre-season preparations with a friendly win against newly formed side Ilkeston FC who will be plying their trade in the Evo-Stik South when football begins in earnest next month.
The game of three 30 minute sections was played on a 3G pitch at the Kirk Hallam Community Sports College's superb facilities on a very warm, sunny midday.
Gresley started well with Tom Betteridge firing a shot just over the bar early on and a good footballing move soon followed but the final shot was pushed away by the home keeper.
Ilkeston had their first shot which flew the wrong side of the far post and minutes later Gresley keeper Darren Keeling was called into action comfortably saving a low shot from just outside the area.
The visitors took the lead after 20 minutes when a fine cross from the left by Tom Betteridge which was met by the deftest of headers by Royce Turville steering the ball into the top far corner of the net.
Eight minutes later it was almost two-nil. A bit of a scramble in the Robin's area saw the ball fall kindly for Richard Hanslow but he somehow managed to smash the ball against the bar with the goal gaping.
Tom Betteridge tested the home keeper with a curling shot that the stopper did well to push away and Hanslow headed Jamie Barrett's cross from the right over the bar as Gresley continued to have the better of their opponents.
Ilkeston again tested Keeling with a stinging low shot but the keeper was well up to the task. Mickey Lyons added a second goal for Gresley on 43 minutes after the midfielder was allowed far too much time to make a fine run through the middle before slamming the ball past the keeper.
Three minutes later Hanslow scored goal number three when Turville's touch found the young striker and he made no mistake beating the keeper with his shot.
Both sides made numerous changes in the last 30 minute segment and it seemed to affect Gresley slightly more than the opposition.
In the sweltering heat Ilkeston reduced the arrears with a goal on 77 minutes although the player looked a couple of yards offside when he received the ball but he finished well and 5 minutes later when a shot on the turn seemed to catch Keeling on the wrong foot as the ball fizzed past him and into the net.
