Evo-Stik Division One South
BT Local Stadium, Dronfield
Tuesday, 9th September 2014, 7.45pm
Gresley Lack Steel At Sheffield
This disappointing display, after Gresley's fine win on Saturday, was made all the worse by them gifting all three goals to their opponents with Kieran O'Connell's goal was one of the only bright spots of the evening.
The only change to the squad that beat Lincoln United on Saturday was Eric Graves returning to take a place on the bench.
Sheffield caught Gresley cold and could easily have taken the lead with just forty-five seconds on the clock but Jahmal Smith fired his shot fractionally wide.
Gresley then had two very good chances themselves. The first fell to Martin Smyth whose looped shot cleared the bar followed by Hayden Johns who was very unlucky to see his effort clatter the near post after beating keeper Myles Wright, who had come rushing well out of his area, to the ball.
Sheffield took the lead when Joel Purkiss's speculative grass-cutter of a shot from 35 yards found the bottom corner with Gresley keeper Alex Townsend stationary.
Seven minutes later they'd doubled their advantage and it was another soft goal to concede. Mitch Hanson made an uncharacteristic lunge inside the area bringing down Matt Roney and referee Steven Meredith had no choice but to point to the spot. Roney took the kick sending Townsend the wrong way.
Gresley looked shell shocked but they did manage a shot from O'Connell but Wright dealt with it comfortably.
The visitors gave their travelling support some glimmer of hope by reducing the deficit ten minutes from the break. A good pass from Jack Langston was slotted home at the far post by O'Connell.
A great chance to level before the break went begging for Gresley as O'Connell fed a superb ball through for Alex Steadman to race onto down the left but he steered his shot around the advancing Wright but wide of the far post.
Sheffield restored their two goal advantage early in the second half and again it was a gift from their visitors. James Gregory ran through the middle of the Gresley defensive line and allowed the space to pick his spot firing past Townsend again a mere spectator as the ball flew past him.
Steadman fired wide again for the visitors before Sheffield had a golden chance to increase their lead. A cross from the left found substitute Jack Hargreaves in space in the centre of the area but he somehow managed to put his header over the bar.
Gresley were still finding it difficult trying to string two passes together with passes frequently going astray. However, they still had chances to get something out of the game. Langston hit a stinging volley just wide and a pass from substitute Graves gave O'Connell a chance but his shot lacked the power to trouble Wright.
With the game almost over Wells burst through into the area but his shot was well blocked by Wright at the expense of a corner.
Sheffield could have piled more agony on Gresley at the end of the game when they broke quickly from a Gresley corner only for Hargraves to once more miss a glorious opportunity firing wide with only Townsend to beat.
