Match Report  |  Boldmere St Michael's vs Gresley FC

Boldmere put a dent in Gresley's back-to-back title hopes by snatching all the points at Chruch Road despite being under the cosh for most of the game.

The Mikes, who had already beaten Gresley at the Moat Ground earlier in the season completed the double with just six minutes remaining when the visitors handed Simeon Tulloch the chance to win the game, an invitation he didn't refuse.

The Gresley management had to shuffle their starting line-up with Gareth Langford suffering a fractured ankle in the previous game against Ellesmere Rangers. Danny Holmes came into midfield with James Jepson, who had completed his suspension, getting a place on the bench.

Gresley's Marc Goodfellow was soon testing the home keeper with a chip from distance that Chris Butler tipped over. Butler was soon in action again blocking Rob Spencer's low shot with his legs as the visitors continued to put The Mikes under pressure.

Despite the virtual one way traffic Boldmere took the lead in somewhat fortunate circumstances. Joe Smith was allowed to cut in from the left and his shot appeared to be heading well past the far post but a nasty deflection saw the ball fly into the top far corner of the net with Gary Hateley rooted to the spot.

Gresley continued to pummel the home side but could not find the killer pass that would produce the result they wanted against, to be honest, not the best defence they've faced recently.

The goal the visitors were looking for should have come after just eight minutes of the second half when Jordi Gough's cross from the left flew through the box to Spencer unmarked at the far post but the normally reliable player rushed his shot at fired well over the bar with the open goal gaping.

Two minutes later Boldmere almost doubled their advantage when a long throw from the right was fumbled by Hateley and fortunately there was a defender to clear the ball off the line.

Boldmere's keeper did well again just before the hour mark when a good move from Gresley was finished with Richard Hanslow's shot but the effort was blocked by Butler's legs. Dean Oliver also had a shot saved by Butler before Spencer almost got on the end of Michael Nottingham's flick on at the far post.

Gresley did manage to beat Butler on 63 minutes when Goodfellow skipped his way into the area before striking a low shot into the bottom far corner of the net.

Two corners came in rapid succession for Gresley but still they couldn't find the vital touch needed for the breakthrough. From one of the corners Goodfellow went close hitting a shot just past the far post.

With Gresley pressing forward there was always a danger of being caught on by the quick break and it almost came on 82 minutes when substitute Dominic Reece found himself unmarked at the far post but he blazed his shot well over the bar.

Boldmere regained the lead two minutes later after Gresley gifted them a goal. The ball was deep in Gresley's half and inexplicably instead of clearing the ball to the other end of the pitch the defence conspired to dally with the ball long enough for it to be sent across the field to Tulloch who strode forward unchallenged and blasted the ball past a stranded Hateley.

Gresley should have at least have claimed a share of the points when Oliver collected a flicked header from Nottingham but the striker hit his volley well over the bar.

With time running out Goodfellow had one more chance to grab something for his side but he scuffed his shot wide of the far post.

As the final whistle sounded prompting scenes of jubilation from the home side it filtered through that both Coventry and Westfields had won making Gresley's task of lifting the league title extremely difficult and the two home games against the top two even more important.