Derbyshire Senior Cup Final
The Proact Stadium, Chesterfield
Monday, 27th April 2015, 7.45pm
Cup Defeat For Gresley
A changed Gresley side suffered a heavy defeat in the final of the Derbyshire Senior Cup played at the Proact Stadium Chesterfield.
With the play-off game at Leek on Wednesday in mind, Gresley manager Wayne Thornhill made changes to the side which lost 1-0 at Stafford on Saturday. Goalkeeper James Want was given his debut after an emergency signing from Dunkirk replacing Liam Roberts who suffered a fractured collarbone at the weekend.
Martin Smyth was slotted in to the right back position with Matt Roome moving into central defence. Sam Grice came into midfield with starts for Russell Peel and Ryan King. Along with three first team regulars Callum Riddell and Aaron Kendrick were on the bench.
Possibly with the game on Wednesday playing on the minds of some of the players they looked a little lethargic and appeared to be cautious of playing too hard.
Premier side Matlock started well with Jamie McDonagh testing Want as the keeper was made to push the shot away for a corner at his near post.
The Gladiators took the lead on 10 minutes when Grice's attempted clearance hit Jamie Barrett and fell nicely for McDonagh who finished well beating Want.
On 21 minutes Town doubled their lead when the unfortunate Roome headed Edward Cribley's free kick into his own net.
Town were applying pressure forcing corners with Adam Yates heading one of them wide followed by McDonagh hit a good chance high and wide.
McDonagh had another golden chance a minute before the break when Danny Holland knocked the ball down for the lively striker on for him to fire his shot well wide. On the stroke of halftime Roome repaid his earlier error by clearing McDonagh shot off the line.
Gresley made a change at halftime with Alex Steadman replacing the out-of-sorts Luke Edwards but that spark failed to ignite the Moatmen who looked well off the pace. McDonagh continued to make his presence tell firing a free kick narrowly wide almost from the start of the second half.
Matlock didn't have long to wait for their third goal and it was that man again. A short corner from McDonagh was played to substitute Otis Khan who returned it to the striker who then curled a superb shot into the far top corner.
Want then made a fine save pushing McDonagh's shot from distance away for a corner. Lucas Harrison was then caught in possession by Niall McManus and who then raced down the right but Want once more made a good save.
However, the relief was short lived as Matlock extended their lead when McDonagh fired a low shot through a crowded box giving Want no chance as the ball flew past him.
The only half chance of the game for Gresley came when Smyth headed Harrison's corner from the right wide.
Khan was another Matlock player having a big effect on the game and he went close curling his shot wide of the far post. But, four minutes later Matlock scored their fifth goal of the night. McManus was put through and despite Gresley complaining that Eric Graves had been fouled in the build up, he rounded Want before slotting the ball home.
Matlock were clearly on top and their confidence on the ball was growing by the minute. It looked like they would soon be adding to Gresley misery. Holland's header brought out another fine save from Want but unfortunately the keeper could not prevent goal number six. A short corner from McDonagh to Khan saw his shot spilled by the keeper and Yates was on hand to ram the ball home from close in.
Want made up for that error moments later when McManus picked out Holland who tried a cheeky backheel but the keeper reacted quickly diving on the goalbound ball.
Gresley's miserable night was made all more miserable in added on time. McManus fired in a low cross from the left which substitute Muhammed Sabo stepped over and Khan scored his deserved goal.
