Evo-Stik Division One South
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 21st March 2015, 3.00pm
Gresley Into Play-off Slot
Gresley made their way into the play-off places with a win against a robust Kidsgrove side. Two goals in each half ensured the Moatmen got all three points.
This was a much improved performance from the one last week at Stockbridge and they fully deserved their win. Kieran O'Connell was targeted by the visitors and the striker was dealt some attention that in any other game would have seen the opposition penalised with more than just the two yellow cards they collected today.
Gresley manager made three changes to last Saturday's side with Mitch Hanson coming in at centre back alongside Jamie Barrett and John Guy replacing Lucas Harrison. Rob Mulonga was given the start with Martin Smyth on the bench.
The home side had two good chances to have taken a very early lead but both Jack Langston and Karl Ashton both squandered their opportunities.
A sign of the treatment to come for O'Connell from the opposition came when Dave McPherson clearly barged the frontman fully in the back in the penalty area but amazingly referee Mark Pearson waved away the protests and awarded a goal kick!
O'Connell replied in the best way by hitting a volley which stung the palms of visiting keeper whilst at the other end Gresley's keeper Liam Roberts was on fine form to superbly tip Matthew Bell's well struck free kick over the bar.
Gresley took the lead on 39 minutes when Eric Graves laid the ball back to Jack Langston who hit a shot beating the keeper from the edge of the area.
The advantage was doubled three minutes later when Graves put in a fine tackle on Holmes and the ball went over to Mulonga who fed the ball back to O'Connell who delicately chipped his effort into the net.
Gresley added the third goal eight minutes into the second half. A cross from the left by Guy found Alex Steadman at the far post who headed home.
Kidsgrove went close almost from the re-start when Andy Kinsey's free kick clipped the outside of the far post.
Recent signing Karl Ashton scored his first goal for Gresley when substitute Smyth put the ball through and the striker finished coolly hitting his first time shot past Hemmings.
The visitors were once denied by the woodwork when Bell's free kick from the 'D' came back off the bar only for McPherson to hit the rebound straight into the arms of Roberts.
Smyth went close at the other end for the Moatmen when he hit a goal bound free kick but Hemmings, diving to his left, made a fine save to deny him.
Gresley substitute Chris Richard almost added a fifth goal at the end of the game when he made a good run down the right but blazed his shot over the bar from a tight angle.
