Match Report  |  Ellistown vs Gresley FC

Four second half goals from man-of-the-match Marc Goodfellow helped Gresley add a second piece of silverware to their season's collection. Substitute Phil Massingham added a fifth goal as Gresley ran out comfortable winners of the Coalville Charity Cup Final at Bardon Hill.

Gresley manager Gary Norton wanted his players to make amends for their 4-2 defeat against Alvechurch at the Moat Ground in their last league game of the season and so he fielded a strong side.

Skipper and goalkeeper Gary Hateley was in the Far East on a business trip so Tom Gutteridge was given the number one jersey, Lee Barrow replaced Tom Betteridge who is suffering from a cracked rib and Mickey Lyons was unavailable.

Ellistown was skippered by former Moatman Carl Tims and for a good half hour of the first half took the game to their neighbours with Carl Benson especially causing the Gresley backline problems.

Gresley were finding the very heavy surface difficult to play their normal style of football but still created some early chances but it was Ellistown who scored first. A free kick from the left resulted in a shot that cannoned back off the upright and Ross Locker was on hand to ram the ball home from close in.

Gutteridge came to Gresley's aid minutes later having to dive bravely at the feet of Locker as the striker threatened to extend his sides lead.

On 24 minutes Ellistown had a golden opportunity to double their tally when Gutteridge brought Benson down in the area. Benson took the spot kick himself but Gutteridge redeemed himself diving to his left to make a good save.

The lively Benson went close again but after beating the offside trap could only fire wide of the target.

Gresley's first attempt on target came just after the half hour mark when Marc Strzyewski headed James Jepson's corner straight at Ellistown keeper Paul Madeley.

Although with the steady rain falling and the pitch cutting up badly, Gresley began to take charge of the game and it was Madeley who kept his side in the game with several good saves. The first came when Goodfellow tested the keeper with a chip that Madeley did well to keep out. He then blocked a shot at his near post from Rob Spencer and then Madeley's outstretched leg kept out Dean Oliver's effort.

It looked as if it was going to be 'just one of those games' as again Madeley denied Gresley an equaliser. A good passing move between Goodfellow, Royce Turville and Oliver ended with the goalkeeper stopping Oliver's shot at the base of the post.

With Gresley pressing high up the field they were almost caught out when Benson was given far too much space on the left and Gutteridge did well to push the shot away for a corner.

Gresley's goal then led a charmed life as Ellistown had three successive chances with Locker and Benson having shots blocked and saved before finally blazing the ball over the bar. Madeley ended the half with yet another good save this time to prevent Jordi Gough a goal.

Gresley were back on terms within four minutes of the second half. Gough picked out Goodfellow who flashed a low shot across Madeley and into the far bottom corner of the net. Goodfellow then had a shot saved before he scored his second goal. A short corner saw Jepson push the ball to Goodfellow who hit a shot from just outside the area that seemed to catch Madeley out as the ball flew past the keeper.

On 65 minutes substitute Richard Hanslow, who had replaced the hardworking Turville five minutes earlier, raced into the area but after sidestepping the keeper was brought down by Madeley as he was about to slip the ball into the unguarded net.

Referee Mr Faunch had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. The only question was, would the official be charitable and after a quick word with the keeper and encouraged by a couple of Gresley players Madeley was allowed to continue to take part in the game. Goodfellow completed his hat-trick sending the keeper the wrong way.

On a strength sapping surface Ellistown understandably began to tire and Gresley took firm control of the game. Hanslow hit a fine shot that crashed off the bar; Spencer's looping header from the rebound was pushed away on the line by Madeley but Goodfellow reacted quickly to smash the ball home at the far post.

Gough then supplied a tempting low ball across the area which Spencer almost got on the end of at the far post and then Spencer went close again when, after getting the better of a defender, saw the woodwork deny him a goal as his effort came back off the bar.

Substitute Phil Massingham added goal number five when he out muscled Ellistown substitute Luke Harris before slipping the ball under Madeley.