Evo-Stik Division One South
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Tuesday, 23rd September 2014, 7.45pm
Hanson Spot On For Gresley
Gresley kept their unbeaten home record but were made to work hard to keep it intact and it took a converted spot kick from Mitch Hanson in the first half to ensure all three points.
Visitors Carlton Town belied their lowly league position with a spirited display which almost gave them a share of the points as they put Gresley under pressure for the final minutes of the game.
Caretaker manager Wayne Thornhill made changes to the side that suffered defeat at Goole on Saturday with Matt Roome dropping into the right back slot, Jamie Barrett, who had missed the previous game due to suspension, came back in the heart of the defence. Brad Wells started with Alex Steadman taking a place on the bench.
Gresley had a good shout for a penalty with hardly ten minutes on the clock when Luke Edwards was bundled over in the area but referee Lisa Rashid allowed play to continue with Wells having his shot saved by keeper Curtis McDonald.
Wells went close again when he volleyed a shot wide after Kieran O'Connell had made a fine run down the left before providing the cross.
The goal which in the end decided the game came when Wells made a run into the area but was then brought down by Alex Troke giving the referee no other choice but to award a spot kick and to show Troke a yellow card despite his protest of innocence.
Mitch Hanson, who had already converted his previous penalty kicks, made it three out of three sending McDonald the wrong way. However, this was the second time he'd scored from the spot. His first attempt was cancelled out after the assistant referee let the referee know he'd seen O'Connell encroach into the area before Hanson kicked the ball.
Minutes later the Millers went close to leveling the scores when a corner from Jamie Walker was headed narrowly wide of the far post.
Gresley were forced into a change at half time with Hayden Johns replacing the injured Barrett and they started the second half with yet another good shout for a penalty when Edwards was floored in the area but the referee would have none of it and waved play on.
To Carlton's credit they started to carve out some good chances with Troke almost atoning for his earlier misdemeanour but saw his shot from distance flying wide. They went even closer minutes later this time it was Walker who noticed Gresley keeper Alex Townsend off his line but his lob just cleared the bar.
Gresley had a golden chance to double their lead when O'Connell fastened onto a loose ball bit with only McDonald to beat was denied by the outstretched leg of the keeper.
The visitors then forced several corners and from one of them they went very close to scoring. Walker curled in a corner kick from the right and Troke rose to get his head on the ball but his effort crashed back off the post with Townsend beaten.
With rain falling making the surface slippery Jack Langston had a shot blocked at the far post while at the other end Troke fired wide.
A free kick by Langston found Gresley substitute Steadman who turned on the edge of the area but his shot went straight into the midriff of McDonald.
Carlton were denied again by the woodwork as the game went into time added on when substitute Maksym Kowal hit a tremendous shot which left Townsend stationary but the ball cannoned back off the bar.
Gresley were hanging on for the final couple of minutes and were relieved when a header sailed over the bar from Troke's corner and the referee ended the game seconds later.
