Match Report  |  Market Drayton Town vs Gresley FC

Gresley took all three points away from home but again they had to dig deep and work hard to get the win.

Despite having the majority of the possession, the chances they created and didn't convert gave the distinct impression that it was going to be 'one of those games!'

Gresley could easily have been three goals up within the first twenty minutes or so as chance after chance arrived but not finished off.

With regular left back Lucas Harrison beginning a three game ban, Gresley manager Wayne Thornhill had to make changes to his back line with Matt Roome being given the full back role.

Gresley were within an inch or so of the perfect start as Luke Edwards put his shot just wide of the far post with not even a minute on the clock. Martin Smyth then went close with a shot from 20 yards which also whistled the wrong side of the upright and Eric Graves headed Hayden Johns' cross narrowly over the bar.

Arguably the best chance for the visitors came when Edwards made a good run down the left and squared a pass into the area where Kieran O'Connell somehow totally miss kicked with the goal gaping.

A corner from the right from Jack Langston was met by Jamie Barrett but the header went wide of the far post. O'Connell then had a shot blocked by keeper Shaun Rowley and Mitch Hanson headed wide at the far post from another Langston corner.

Gresley were totally dominating the game in terms of possession but the team and the travelling supporters were beginning to get frustrated by the lack of goals, and there should have been plenty by now.

Somewhat against the run of play Gresley were very close to ending the first half a goal behind. A corner from the left by William Whieldon came out to Jordan Johnson who hit a sweetly struck shot which rattled the cross bar.

The second half brought the goals and a flush of yellow cards. Graves was on the end of one of them when he was harshly adjudged to have fouled a player with the referee Richard Price penalising the midfielder for hardly a poor tackle.

Again against the run of play Town took the lead. Jake Bennett picked up the ball on the half way line and was allowed to run thirty five yards down the right unchallenged before cutting in and firing a shot past Gresley keeper Ross Atkins.

The home side almost doubled their advantage minutes later but Paul McMullen headed James O'Neil's free kick wide.

Gresley were level just after the hour mark. O'Connell made a good run down the left and sent in a cross which caused mayhem in the box and the unfortunate O'Neil bundled the ball into his own net from close in.

That goal seemed to liven up the Gresley side and two minutes later they took the lead. Graves made a fine run down the flank before picking out O'Connell who in turn found Alex Steadman who smashed the ball into the net.

Gresley continued to defend well and were looking for another goal to finish the game off but the final few minutes of the game they had to do so with a man less.

O'Connell who had been given a yellow card earlier for, its assumed, an attempted reckless tackle which he didn't make, got tangled up over on the left and got the faintest of touches on the back of a defender who made the most of it tumbling in a dramatic way which resulted in O'Connell receiving a second yellow followed by a red card.

But Gresley held on to grab three well deserved but hard won three points.