Pre-Season Friendly
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Wednesday, 18th July 2012, 7.45pm
Albion Too Strong For Gresley
Football League Division Two Burton Albion were a little too strong for a spirited Gresley side who were playing their first pre-season friendly of the new season.
Goals from Justin Richards and Devan Patterson in the first half with Ben Cowdrill and Adi Yussuff adding two more in the second gave Albion a comfortable win at the Moat Ground.
Gresley had been left kicking their heels as their first three friendlies had been called off due to the extremely wet summer so this game against their illustrious near neighbours proved to be a good work out for Gary Norton's side.
The home side created the first half chance when Dean Oliver shot from a wide angle that Dean Lyness did well to push away for a corner.
Albion began to take control of the game with both Cleveland Taylor and Jacques Maghoma both going close.
Robbie Weir went close to opening the scoring for the visitors when he volleyed Maghoma's cross against the bar. But they didn't have to wait long for a goal. A good move down the left ended with Damien McRory picking out Richards who sidefooted the ball past Gresley keeper Gary Hateley.
Maghoma almost added a second when he burst through the Gresley back line only to be thwarted by a superbly timed tackle from Michael Nottingham in his own penalty area.
With two minutes remaining of the half Albion doubled their advantage. Another good move this time saw Patterson who seemed to be in two minds whether to chip the keeper or to shoot somehow managed a shot that seemed to have Hateley beaten for a soft goal.
Both sides fielded almost completely different teams for the second half and Albion extended their lead on 52 minutes. Substitute Gresley keeper Tom Gutteridge did well to push Yussuff's header onto the post but Cowdrill was quick to react ramming the ball into the empty net from close in.
Burton's fourth goal came on 74 minutes when Cowdrill's bullet header rattled the bar leaving Gutteridge rooted to the spot but again the quick reactions of the visitors saw Yussuff knock the ball home again from close in.
Gutteridge was far the busier of the two keepers as Burton threatened to add further goals. The woodwork denied the visitors with Jimmy Phillips low shot clattering the base of the post with Gutteridge making two good consecutive saves to prevent Albion from scoring again.
