FA Cup with Budweiser 2nd Round Qualifying Replay
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Tuesday, 1st October 2013, 7.45pm
FA Cup Ends For Gresley
A 58th minute strike from Brett Solkhon shattered Gresley's hopes of a good cup run for this season. However, the home side can be very proud of themselves as they made the Conference North highflyers work for their win over two hard fought games.
After a brave but deserved draw at St James on Saturday hopes were high that the Moatmen could pull off a shock at home but Brackley didn't read the script and arguably deserved their narrow victory and the right to play Boston United in the next round.
With just one change to the starting eleven from Saturday with Mitch Hanson replacing Matt Roome, Gresley were again under pressure from the off with Izak Reid firing straight at Ross Etheridge.
A free kick from the right by Marc Goodfellow almost resulted in a goal when the ball was fired in at Brackley keeper Billy Turley who made the save without knowing anything about it.
Brackley hit back and Etheridge needed to be alert as he pushed a shot from Charlie Griffin round the far post. It was then Gresley's turn to go close with a good move. Kieran O'Connell made a good run through the middle before picking Goodfellow out to his left and the result was a curling shot that flew past the far post by a mere fraction.
The second half started as in the previous game with Brackley pressing forward and they took the lead on 58 minutes. A superb shot from Eddie Nisevic hit the underside of the bar and bounced out. There then appeared to be a foul on the Gresley defender before Solkhon hammered the ball past Etheridge but the goal stood.
Brackley should have doubled their lead not long after when a cross from Nisevic found Griffin unmarked who planted his header wide of the far post.
Gresley almost gifted Brackley a goal when Marc Strzyzewski headed the ball into his own net but thankfully it flew wide of the post. The corner was swung into the area and a Gresley miss kick saw the ball fly up nicely for Griffin who again failed to take advantage this time skying his shot well over the bar from close in.
Brackley substitute Gary Mulligan fired wide as they threatened to add to their score but Gresley threw the kitchen sink at the visitors for the final ten minutes and could have snatched a goal to take the tie into extra time as on 90 minutes when Eric Graves had the goal in his sights but lifted his shot from the edge of the area over the bar and that was it for the home side as their participation in this season's premier cup competition ended.
Manager's View
"Over the two games I think we've really done well. The players have shown great character and defended really well. Today we started the game well and I thought it was pretty even in the first half and we played some good stuff.
"I can't remember them really having a shot on target and I thought we created the better chances but unfortunately we didn't take them.
"We needed to start and be out of the blocks in the second half but we never really got going but overall it was very encouraging and we've got to take that into the next game against Carlton on Saturday.
"I thought Jordan Nadat did well when he came on. We got so close but i think they deserved it on the night. They just had that bit of quality and were slightly fitter than us. Having another game on a Tuesday may have told plus we couldn't change things tonight and bring fresh players in but you can't knock us, we've done well and we've just got to keep going now.
"We chucked everything at them for the final five or ten minutes and the players and the supporters thought there was a hand ball in the area and everyone appealed even those behind the goal. How come the referee never saw it when everybody else did? Marc Strzyzewski said it was a deliberate hand ball and how could you miss seeing it and again the referee and the officials don't see it? But, every time we touch one of their players the referee sees everything, it does make you wonder sometimes.
"At the end we went three at the back and went for it but unfortunately when we did get the ball into wide areas we didn't deliver. We had players waiting in there but we just couldn't get it past that first man - but they did work hard to close us down.
"Looking forward to Saturday, Carlton have started well this season. They've conceded very few goals and been winning games by the odd goal so it will be very difficult but it will be no different to tonight so we should know what to expect and the same with Leek. Leek have also started well but we play well away and we need to take that confidence into those two games.
"Hopefully we will have Danny Holmes available for Saturday. With what has recently happened at Derby County we will have to see if it affects our loan of Ross Etheridge. The new Derby management will have a look at everybody and we will just have to wait for those decisions but Ross has shown great character playing for us. He's a very good keeper and going to get better. Today was probably his worst game kicking wise but otherwise he's been absolutely brilliant for us and I'm sure he'll go on to better things in the future."
