Match Report  |  Tividale vs Gresley FC

This performance was in stark contrast to the midweek showing at Coalville as this one showed grit and determination as Gresley had to play for almost an hour with just ten men after goalkeeper Liam Roberts was shown a red card for bringing Mark Danks down just inside his area. As it turned out Tividale could not capitalise with Danks failing from the spot.

Gresley manager Wayne Thornhill had to juggle his side again with Lucas Harrison still injured and Kallum Keane also unable to play due to injury. This meant Thornhill moved Jake Carlisle in to partner Jamie Barrett at the heart of his defence. Roberts returned and there was a new face on the bench with Lavell White returning to the club after three years. Joe Brothwell was also included in the starting eleven.

Tividale made a good start with the much travelled Danks forcing two good saves from Roberts with former Rocester player Chris Sterling also going close all within the first fifteen minutes.

Gresley began to settle and had a chance themselves when a corner from the left was played short and then put into the area but John Guy couldn't get enough power behind his shot to trouble home keeper Chris Jay.

The best chance for Tividale came on 32 minutes. Gresley failed to clear the ball and Carlisle was caught in possession on the edge of the area and Danks raced forward and was brought down by Roberts giving referee Matt Law no choice but to point at the spot and show Roberts a red card.

Jack Langston chose to don the goalkeeper shirt and gloves and his first job was to face the former Bradford City and more recently the Sutton Coldfield striker Danks. Langston chose the correct way to dive and allegedly got the faintest of touches as the ball struck the base of the far post.

That was a let off for the Moatmen and the home side, smarting from the miss, began to apply pressure forcing four consecutive corners which came to nothing.

With the first half rapidly coming to a close Danks fired a shot which Langston expertly dealt with and with the referee almost about to close the proceedings Gresley were awarded a free kick over on the right. Sam Wood took the kick and Jordan Ball controlled the ball well before laying it back to Martin Smyth, who had replaced Brothwell five minutes earlier. The midfielder struck an unstoppable shot which left Jay stationary.

Within a minute of the start of the second half Gresley almost doubled their lead. A free kick over on the right seemed to elude most players but was cleared off the line at the far post.

Guy was to feature again as Gresley did double their tally on 57 minutes when he was felled in the area by Lewis Wright again giving the referee the clear decision to award the penalty. Steadman took the spot kick sending Jay the wrong way.

Despite being a man down Gresley looked quite comfortable with Langston, the stand-in keeper, having very little to do. Indeed, they could have added more goals when Guy laid the ball on for Steadman his shot had little power as it was hit straight at the keeper.

With a couple of minutes of the game remaining Gresley went close again when Ball dribbled his way but hardworking front man just hadn't got enough strength left in his legs to hit his shot hard enough and it spun away and struck the outside of the post.

This was a very hardworking show from all of the Moatmen as they defended as a man and even put Tividale under pressure with their attacking play much to their credit.