Midlands Football Alliance
Noose Lane, Willenhall
Tuesday, 24th April 2012, 7.45pm
Champions
Gresley made it back-to-back title wins as they clinched the Midland Football Alliance crown with a win against Willenhall Town at Noose Lane.
A first half strike from Richard Hanslow gave the Moatmen a slender lead but Hanslow steadied any nerves scoring a second goal and the celebrations began when substitute and Moat Ground favourite Royce Turville slammed in the third.
Manager Gary Norton was forced into a couple of changes with Jamie Barrett suffering from a groin injury and Dean Oliver going down with a bug.
It was a nervy start for the visitors as they tried to find their feet on an uneven surface and with the grass a little on the long side.
Marc Goodfellow went close firing a shot wide of the far post and then he put a fine pass through for Phil Massingham who tested the Town's keeper Jamie Evans' resolve with a shot that needed to be tipped over.
A corner from the right by James Jepson saw Danny Holmes head towards goal but his effort was blocked. Hanslow hit the rebound on the turn but again the effort was blocked.
The goal Gresley had been looking for to settle the nerves came on 20 minutes from a superb footballing move which ended with Goodfellow threading a pass through to Hanslow who hit his shot powerfully past Evans but despite the keeper getting a hand on the ball he couldn't keep it out.
Gresley went looking for another goal and Michael Nottingham went close heading Jepson's corner kick agonisingly inches wide of the far post.
Another good footballing move ended with Goodfellow clattering the woodwork with his shot. Seconds later he cut in from the left but this time Evans got down well to push the shot away for a corner.
As the first half drew to a close Gresley went very close to getting the goal that looked certain to come but a defender managed to clear the ball off the line.
Gresley continued in the second half where they'd left off in the first. Firstly Goodfellow made a good run into the area but hit his shot straight at the keeper and then after a run down the left Jordi Gough fired over a low ball through the box but the onrushing Massingham and Rob Spencer couldn't get on the end of the inviting cross.
Goodfellow was continuing to cause mayhem in the Willenhall defence and after bursting into area skewed a shot wide of the far post and then followed it up with a similar move but this time his shot was blocked.
Spencer then provided a cross for Goodfellow but the keeper made a fine save to deny the wide man a goal his play surely deserved.
Despite Goodfellow not getting on the score sheet himself he was instrumental once more in giving Hanslow another chance putting a pinpoint pass through to the young striker who finished well firing across Evans and in to the far corner of the net.
Hanslow went close again but after being put through he smashed his shot into the top of the side netting. He went close again moments later hitting a dipping volley that just cleared the bar.
Spencer was then denied by Evans who made a good save at his near post and then he also hit the post. Hanslow hit the rebound but again the woodwork came to the rescue as the ball crashed off the bar. The ball eventually came to substitute Turville who sent the travelling Gresley supporters into noisy celebrations as he smashed the ball home.
Hanslow was still giving the Willenhall back line nightmares as he got the better of substitute defender Jemiah Richards but fired wide of the far post.
The only save that Gresley keeper Gary Hateley had to make in the entire game came deep into time added on but he was up to the task comfortably saving a header at the far post.
Referee Mr Scerry blew his whistle and Gresley had reached their goal with a game in hand cueing good mannered pitch celebrations from players, management and supporters alike.
The Willenhall players, although disappointed with the defeat, sportingly gave the Gresley players a guard of honour applauding their visitors off the pitch.
The presentation of the League Championship Trophy will be presented after Saturday's game at the Moat Ground against Alvechurch - 3pm kick off.
