Steve Hackett Memorial Trophy
The Hawfields, Newhall
Thursday, 28th July 2011, 7.00pm
Gresley X1 Reach Trophy Final
A Gresley X1 won through to the final of the Steve Hackett Memorial Trophy with a three-two win over Rocester at The Hawfields.
Gresley fielded a strong side in what was at times an ill tempered game that saw a player off each side red carded.
After just 5 minutes Gresley took the lead when a fine pass from Marc Goodfellow sent Richard Hanslow through and the young striker curled a delicious shot around Rocester keeper Richard Frogatt and into the top far corner of the net.
Rocester went close to levelling on 14 minutes but a good block by James Flinders denied Pete Martin.
Tempers flared on 22 minutes when Dan McCloud made a shocking tackle on Royce Turville and as McCloud had just minutes earlier received a yellow card for an equally crude tackle on Jack Coulson this time the referee showed a red card. Unfortunately, Carl Slater retaliated and appeared to slap a Rocester player who had to be held back by several of his team mates before the referee showed Slater a straight red card.
As things calmed down slightly Hanslow had a chance to double the Gresley advantage but Frogatt did well to block the attempt. Rikki Birch then found the side netting before Richard Butler doubled the score on 31 minutes. A moment of hesitant defending from Ashley Justin allowed Butler in and he took two strides before slamming the ball home from just outside the area giving Frogatt no chance.
Birch then sent over a cross from the right but Turville's header was gathered at the second attempt. Rocester chalked a goal off on the stroke of half time when some poor defending ended with the ball back to Flinders who was racing off his line but as he dived to gather the ball Adam Green beat him to the ball and poked it on towards the goal where it only just crossed the line.
Hanslow went close again within minutes of the second half starting putting his shot on the turn fractionally wide of the near post.
Rocester began to get on top with Craig Smith hitting a low shot that Flinders blocked and then arguably the miss of the night when Green found himself with only Flinders to beat bit horribly skewed his shot well wide of the far post.
Flinders did well to prevent Rocester from levelling diving to his left pushing the ball away for a corner.
Hanslow added his second of the night on 80 minutes. Despite his shirt being pulled he managed to slip his marker and hit a low shot across Flinders and into the far bottom corner.
Goodfellow had a shot go wide before being instrumental in the move of the game. He cleverly sent Turville off down the left with a superb reverse ball and Turville in turn picked out substitute Alex Rowland in the centre of the area but unfortunately the final shot cleared the bar.
Rocester narrowed the gap when a low cross into the box from substitute Mensa Kinch was scrambled into the net between a defender and keeper.
The game ended on a sad note when young Gresley substitute Ryan Usher who had not long been brought into the game had to be stretchered off with what is suspected as a serious knee injury.
Gresley now meet Stretton Eagles, who beat Barton Utd in the other semi-final 2-0, in the final next Tuesday night at Newhall. Kick off 7pm.
