Evo-Stik NPL Division One South
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 14th December 2013, 3.00pm
O'Connell At The Double
Gresley had to battle not only a determined opposition who had yet to lose to the Moatmen in their three previous meetings since Gresley's promotion, and a very blustery wind which wasn't conducive to flowing football.
Unfortunately Gresley had to make a change when Mitch Hanson picked up an injury during the warm up with Sam Grice taking his place in the right back slot. Skipper Jamie Barrett was still absent and Royce Turville still suffering a slight back problem taking a place on the bench.
The home side started brightly with Rob Spencer going close to opening the scoring with just six minutes on the clock when his flick from Paolo Piliero's cross hit the far post.
Town came back strongly with a good shot having to be parried by Gresley keeper Mats Morch. They went close again when a swift attack down the right by Tom France ended with a pass to Jordan Cole who then flashed a shot across the face of the Gresley goal.
The action swung to the other end with Kieran O'Connell laying the ball back for Alex Steadman who fired a delicious curling shot around Town keeper Andrew Mills but also just the wrong side of the far post.
Town were almost gifted a goal when Grice's back pass failed to get back to Morch and was collected by Cole but the Gresley keeper saved Grice's blushes making a fine block with his legs.
Gresley then went close when a cross from the left was missed in the area by Spencer only for Jack Langston to smash his shot which was well saved by Mills.
As the first half drew to a close Gresley saw two more chances. The first when Leon Ashman almost put the ball into his own net from Piliero's cross and from the resulting corner by Langston, John Guy hit a shot which was well held by Mills.
Gresley made the first chance of the second half but Langston's goal bound shot was deflected away for a corner.
Town were not to be outdone with Thomas Urwin curling a shot past the far post. They were to rue that miss because three minutes later Gresley took the lead. A terrific shot from just inside the area was blocked but Spencer following up smashed the rebound into the net.
On 66 minutes Gresley were two goals to the good. A ball was played to the keeper but O'Connell was quick off the mark and beat him to the ball. Taking out wide O'Connell then turned and unleashed a cracking shot which was headed clear but from a couple of feet behind the goal line and with the assistant referee perfectly placed the goal was given.
Langston then tried an audacious lob which almost caught Mills out but ended up just clearing the bar. Spencer then fired across the goalmouth but seconds later he went even closer only to see the woodwork deny him for a second time in the match as the ball crashed back off the near post. Morch had to be alert holding onto a very well struck shot from Cole.
Gresley extended their lead with five minutes remaining. Guy collected the ball in his own area and made a stirring run down the middle of the park only to be tripped just outside the Town area. The referee Mr Pratt made a good decision to allow play to continue as the ball ran out to O'Connell on the left who then made no mistake smashing the ball past Mills.
Morch once more made a superb save in the dying minutes to preserve his clean sheet diving to his right to push Urwin's low goal bound shot away for a corner.
