Match Report  |  Dunkirk vs Gresley FC

First half goals from Callum Riddell, Alex Steadman and Brad Wells with Tom Land adding one early in the second was enough to see Gresley sink the Boatmen even though the home side managed grabbed a couple of goals back late in the second.

Gresley could have added a few more goals but were denied by goal line clearances, the post and some decent saves from goalkeeper Jake Want.

Within the first two minutes Gresley went close to opening the score twice with Jamie Barrett heading Lucas Harrison's corner from the left narrowly wide and the Wells had a header cleared off the line.

Want then made a save he knew nothing about as the ball crashed back off him but the pressure paid off when the visitors opened the scoring. Steadman did well to turn his marker on the left before slipping the ball through to Riddell who confidently side footed home.

Riddell then turned provider as he sent Eric Graves through and with the keeper advancing he lifted the ball over Want but was unlucky to see the ball come back off the near post.

Want was in action again moments later this time pushing Riddell's shot away for a corner. The ball was swung in by Harrison from the left and the defence managed to get the ball away for another flag kick again taken by Harrison. This time the ball was met by Land but a defender headed the effort off the line at the far post.

Want was busy again saving well from Jack Langston's shot but he could do nothing to prevent Gresley increasing their lead just after the half hour mark. Despite attention from two defenders Steadman managed to muscle his way into the box before smashing the ball past the helpless keeper.

Gresley were now playing some excellent passing football which deserved a reward and it came just before the break when a good move ended with Kieran O'Connell finding Wells who slotted the ball home.

Both sides made several changes in the second half and as usual it changed the dynamics of the game and Gresley found it hard to get the rhythm and consistency in their football they'd enjoyed in the first but they did open well with one of the substitutes having an immediate impact.

Rob Mulonga was soon causing problems down the left with his speed and after one such run his ball into the box could not be cleared by several Dunkirk defenders and the ball eventually came to Land who lashed the loose ball into the roof of the net.

Gresley seemed to switch off a little giving their hosts a glimmer of hope as they began to press forward. They were awarded a very soft free kick on the left and while Gresley were still sorting themselves out the ball was lifted into the box where the unmarked Cory Simms was allowed to spectacularly overhead kick the ball into the net.

Dunkirk's second goal was a controversial one. Kevin Lusamba raced into the area and with the ball running away from him for a goal kick he decided to make a dive from a tackle which Tom Daly would be very proud of at the Commonwealth Games and the referee Andy Parker pointed to the spot. To his credit Lusamba converted well beating substitute keeper Tom Turner.

Those goals, along with some sloppy play from Gresley, gave the home side some encouragement and they almost made the game closer that it really deserved to be with Turner having to make two good saves late on, but Graves was denied once more as Want turned his low shot heading for the far bottom corner away for a corner.