Match Report  |  Coalville Town vs Gresley FC

Anyone looking at the booking tally could be forgiven if they thought this game was a feisty one but in all honesty none of the red cards were warranted for either side. Yes, the game was hard fought and competitive from both sides but to all the players' credit there was not one bad tackle despite the worsening weather conditions.

It was a typical Boxing Day clash with Gresley reduced to nine men with Jake Carlisle receiving a very harsh second yellow card just after the hour mark quickly followed eight minutes later with Jack Langston also receiving a bewildering second yellow card. Referee Ben Cooke did redress the balance somewhat when Coalville's Ellis Story also received a second yellow card again somewhat harshly.

Gresley manager Wayne Thornhill made just one change to his starting eleven which won at Tividale with Rob Mulonga being replaced by Sam Grice. On the bench Thornhill had the returning Mitch Hanson and Matt Roome who had recovered from illness and injury respectively.

The first twenty minutes or so saw Coalville force Gresley back with Nathan Watson going close firing his shot into the side netting. Visiting goalkeeper Alex Townsend was then needed to make a good block from Jared Holmes, who had made his way into the box, at his near post.

The ball found its way over to the right and Jake Wooley put a cross into the box which Watson blazed over the bar from close in. Watson then headed Alex Dean's cross from the right over the bar as Coalville threatened.

Gresley were made to reshuffle things when the injured Grice was replaced by Chris Richards and it was shortly afterwards that Gresley managed to create a chance when Kieran O'Connell cut in from the left but flashed his shot across the face of the goal.

Lucas Harrison then tried to open the scoring for the visitors with a low shot which Sean Bowles managed to grab at the second attempt.

With five minutes of the first half remaining Eric Graves fired wide and O'Connell's shot from the right needed tipping over the bar by Bowles as Gresley finished strongly.

Gresley fell behind within five minutes of the start of the second half. Holmes dashed into the area and was brought down by Jake Carlisle giving the referee no alternative but to point to the spot and brandish a yellow card for the unfortunate defender. Brad Munn took the kick beating Townsend to give the Ravens the lead.

However, the lead only lasted three minutes as Gresley struck back with a penalty of their own after Martin Smyth had been felled by Jamie McAtteer who should have also received a yellow card for his trouble. Alex Steadman confidently took the kick sending Bowles the wrong way.

Gresley began to have more control of the game with O'Connell having a shot saved but Coalville also created a good chance when Townsend needed to make a fine save from a header.

The visitors took the lead just after the hour mark when, after some good work by Richards, they were awarded a free kick which was whipped into the box by Langston and Jamie Barrett was on hand to smash the ball home at the far post.

Gresley had a golden chance to increase their advantage when Steadman took advantage of some static Coalville defending and raced forward but the advancing Bowles did well to block the attempt. O'Connell then did well down the left with Bowles having to push the final shot into the side netting.

Carlisle then was the victim of some poor officiating when he appeared to catch Bowles as he come racing out of his goal but instead of taking account of the poor playing conditions and giving the defender a warning he very quickly produced a yellow card followed by a red. Thornhill sacrificed substitute Richards replacing him with experienced defender Hanson to try and bolster his defence.

Smyth then saw Bowles off his line and tried a long range effort which was too low to beat the keeper.

Things got worse for Gresley when on 74 minutes Langston received a second yellow card again a poor decision.

Gresley now had fifteen minutes or so to hang on with just nine men on the pitch. Again Thornhill made the decision to replace his lone striker Steadman with Roome who can play in midfield or defence in the hope of holding on to their slender lead.

As was to be expected Gresley had their backs to the wall and Coalville went close to drawing level. Awarded a free kick Munn took the kick and his effort cannoned back off the bar and away to safety.

Despite have two men more Coalville was undone by a fast break which ended with O'Connell getting a vital touch to cut the ball back for Graves to smash into the net.

Coalville were reduced to ten men when Storey received his marching orders for a second yellow card but his side continued to turn the screw and were denied by a fine save from Townsend tipping a shot way from danger.

Five minutes were remaining when Coalville scored their second goal. A ball into Gresley's area was not cleared and Jake Wooley was on hand to ram the ball into the net.

This led to a frantic final few minutes for the visitors but things may have been a little easier if Graves, who was in on goal, had not been brought down from behind by Jed Davies who should have also been sent off as he prevented a goal scoring opportunity.

Still Gresley managed to hang on and defy the odds with a stirring and hard earned three points.