Evo-Stik NPL Division One South
Butlin Lane, Rugby
Tuesday, 18th August 2015, 7.45pm
Second League Defeat For Gresley
Gresley's poor start to the new campaign continued with a defeat at new league team Rugby Town. Despite having the better of the second half the game was lost in with their lacklustre show in the first as they found it difficult to handle a side who had a point to prove after being thrashed at Loughborough on Saturday.
On a very good surface in what will be one of the better stadiums Gresley will visit this season, Town were quicker to the ball and were finding so much space to play the ball down the flanks with Northampton Town loanees Danny Clifton and Sam Warburton both being particularly thorns in the Gresley defence alongside the lively David Kolodynski up front.
Gresley manager Wayne Thornhill made changes to his side who suffered defeat to new boys Basford at the Moat on Saturday. Matt Roome returned to the right back slot with Richard Bailey back into his more familiar role in midfield. Lucas Harrison was given a left midfield slot and Alex Steadman returned alongside Jordan Ball up front.
It was soon obvious that Rugby were still smarting from their weekend drubbing forcing a corner with only second on the clock. Gresley hit back quickly themselves breaking up field with John Guy racing up field before finding Steadman with his pass who then returned the compliment but the final shot went wide of the target.
Town took the lead and it was a poor goal to concede by the visitors. A corner from the right was not defended and headed back from the far post into the box where Tom Liversedge headed home.
The hosts went close to doubling their advantage with Robbie Parker and Clifton both firing their shots just wide of the upright.
Gresley only had one serious attempt in the first half with Steadman heading Roome's cross from the right against the underside of the bar but his effort bounced away to safety.
Warburton made it a miserable end to the first half for the visitors doubling his side's lead with six minutes of the half remaining. After tearing down the left and shrugging off what were half hearted attempts to stop him, he hit a searing shot from just outside the area which Gresley keeper Liam Roberts looked to have dealt with getting a hand to the ball underneath the bar but the shot was too powerful and he could only help the ball into the net.
Whatever was said by Thornhill in the dressing room at the break seemed to have some sort of effect as Gresley looked far more determined than in what was a poor first half for the Moatmen.
Within ten minutes of the re-start substitute Ryan King, who had replaced Harrison two minutes previous, managed to get himself into the area and slipped the ball to Steadman who slipped as he tried to connect but still the ball headed towards the net only for Town substitute Keenan Rosser, who had replaced former Moatman Ryan walker in the first half, to clear the attempt off the line. The ball was only cleared as far as Jack Langston who was unlucky to see his shot from the edge of the area fly narrowly wide of the post.
Gresley were working hard and winning the second ball, something they didn't do in the first half and it out pressure on the home side with Kallum Keane heading Sam Wood's corner over the bar.
More pressure was applied by the visitors forcing two consecutive corners from the left and the work rate soon paid dividends with a goal. King was making a nuisance of himself in the area and he managed to lay the ball back to Jordan Ball who hit a superb low shot from just outside the 18 yard box leaving home keeper Scott Dutton helpless as the ball flew past him and into the net.
Despite all their hard work in the second half Gresley were not able to get that vital goal to get their season off the mark as all the damage was done in the first leaving a mountain to climb.
