Evo-Stik Division One South
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 18th April 2015, 3.00pm
Gresley Denied All Three Points
They say there are times when teams do not get the rub of the green and Gresley can certainly agree with that statement.
Against Leek in midweek they had at least two very good shouts for penalties only to be denied by the referee. Today, another controversial refereeing decision saw Gresley drop two vital points in their play-off hopes.
Leading by an Alex Steadman first half goal there were only a minute or so remaining of the second and after a scramble in front of goal with Dale players appealing for a goal. Gresley managed to clear the ball to the half way line with the assistant referee indicating that the ball had not crossed the line. Play was allowed to continue for 20 or 30 seconds and then Kieran O'Connell was scythed down just in front of the dugouts and a melee ensued.
The referee, while trying to sort things out, picked the ball up and consulted with his assistant who had seconds earlier indicated for play to continue. Almost everyone in the Moat Ground thought the stoppage was to decide who should clearly be red carded for the cynical foul on O'Connell but to the utter anger of players, management and supporters, the referee Mr Sinclair indicated a re-start awarding Tividale a goal and the perpetrator of the foul getting away scot free!
There was an earlier taste of what was to come when Tividale's manager was sent to the stand by Mr Sinclair minutes after Alex Steadman had put Gresley ahead. The manager made his way to the front of the stand just a few feet away from his bench which was pointed out later in the game meaning he had to move into the directors seating at the back.
Gresley manager Wayne Thornhill welcomed back Mitch Hanson, Jamie Barrett and Jack Langston who all missed the visit to Harrison Park and the Moatmen started well with Eric Graves firing a shot straight at visiting keeper Charlie Price with only seconds on the clock. Dales Jordan Archer then tried a looping header which home keeper Liam Roberts grabbed easily.
The Moatmen took the lead from the best move of the game. O'Connell slid the ball to Graves who then sent Steadman on his way down the left. He cut into the area and drove the ball across Price and into the bottom far corner of the net.
The game then became very scrappy with neither side creating any clear cut chances. Huckfield made a last ditch tackle to deny Steadman as he looked to fire O'Connell's pass home. Tividale did hit the bar but was offside.
Gresley started the second half with two shots from Martin Smyth both held by Price. Mitchell Botfield then brought out a good save from Roberts and then flashed a shot just wide of the far upright.
A corner from Langford was cleared and Dale made a quick break catching Gresley on their heels but Roberts was up to the task making a good save to his right from Archer's low shot.
Gresley went close to doubling their advantage on 80 minutes. Smyth's cross from the right was met by O'Connell but his header from close in was well parried by Price.
Luke Edwards, who had earlier replaced Karl Ashton, fired a low shot which Price held on to and just when Gresley looked as if they'd done enough for all three points - the moment of controversy which brought a bitter end to the game and the protests continued as the players left the pitch.
