Match Report  |  Kirby Muxloe vs Gresley FC

Gresley ended their run of five consecutive away games with a hard earned point at fifth placed Kirby Muxloe.

A dubious second half penalty had robbed Gresley of all three points after Dean Oliver had put them in the lead at the end of the first half.

Gresley were still without their midfield pairing of Danny Holmes and James Jepson due to suspension so Mickey Lyons and Gareth Langford continued in the middle of the park.

Kirby, who have seen results improve of late went very close to taking an early lead when Tom Hill managed to get his head to the ball but his effort came back off the base of the near post and into Gresley keeper Gary Hateley's arms.

Slowly Gresley began to take control and a corner from Marc Goodfellow was headed over the bar by Michael Nottingham and then minutes later both Goodfellow and Lyons had shots blocked by defenders.

After two corners by Kirby Gresley made a quick break and Oliver's cross-cum-shot from the right had the home keeper Tom Holyoak backpedalling but the ball sailed just over the bar.

The visitors almost opened the scoring on 28 minutes when a sweetly struck shot from Goodfellow beat Holyoak but unfortunately came back off the bar with the rebound blasted over by Rob Spencer.

Goodfellow went close again with a free kick from the edge of the area which took a deflection and went over the bar with the keeper flatfooted.

Holyoak came to Kirby's rescue making a fine save to his left to push Goodfellow's low shot away for a corner.

With just a few minutes remaining of the half Royce Turville had to be replaced by Richard Hanslow due to a knee injury but Gresley had the last say by taking the lead deep in injury time. Substitute Hanslow worked hard to recover the ball down on the right and then sent over a superb cross into the box where Oliver was waiting to head the ball home.

Kirby came out for the second half looking more determined and made two changes bringing on Lee Barratt and Richard Dallison for Chris McCathie and Elliott Pacey.

However, it was Gresley who went close to extending their lead. Oliver picked out Goodfellow down the left who then left two defenders sitting on the grass on the bye line but his final shot hit the side netting. Langford then tried his hand and after bursting into the area fired his shot over the bar.

Kirby equalised in somewhat dubious circumstances. Stuart Verrall placed himself between Spencer and Nottingham in the area and as the free kick was taken the big striker made out he'd been clattered into and the referee Mr Mitchell, who had made some very poor decisions throughout the match, fell for the old trick and pointed to the spot which Verall converted. Gresley hit back almost immediately as Oliver hit a volley that Holyoak did well to hold onto as Gresley players looked to pounce.

Gresley keeper Gary Hateley, who had been largely untroubled throughout the game had to deal with a low shot from Verrall which he did comfortably.

The visitors had two chances to take all three points in the final few minutes. Hanslow was put through but was denied by a fine block from Holyoak and then after he'd beaten the offside trap once more the young striker flashed his shot across the face of the goal.