Evo-Stik NPL Division One South
Bill Stokeld Stadium, Stoke Lane, Gedling
Saturday, 12th September 2015, 3.00pm
Gresley Hang On For Three Points
Gresley are still to find their fluent best but they are learning to dig deep when the circumstances demand it.
For almost 70 minutes the Moatmen were battling 10 men as Carlton had goal keeper red carded but as we all know somehow teams with a man down seem to muster all the energy and determination and it was seen in spade loads from the hosts and at times it was difficult to see who had the man advantage.
Gresley had to hang on for the last ten minutes or so as Carlton threw everything at the visiting defence and it almost paid off but the Moatmen hung on to take all the points, their third win and all of them on the road.
Manager Wayne Thornhill is starting to get a settle side and he made just one change from the side which beat Tividale last Saturday with Kallum Keane replacing Jake Carlisle at the heart of the defence.
Gresley started well forcing five consecutive corners which came to nothing. However, disaster came for Carlton on 22 minutes when keeper Curtis McDonald was adjudged to have handled the ball out of his area. Referee Guy Stretton consulted with his assistant and both agreed McDonald was the last man preventing Alex Steadman a chance on goal and so a straight red car was brandished with substitute keeper Jack Steggles replacing the sacrificed Kevin Lusamba. Jack Langston took the free kick but fired his low shot straight at Steggles.
To Carlton's credit they didn't sit back 'parking the bus' but pressed forward and their first decent chance came when a free kick from the left by Daniel Gordon was met by Connor Green but his header went over the bar.
The breakthrough, Gresley had been struggling to get, came on 37 minutes. Joe Brothwell made a good run down the right and put over a cross which Steadman managed to head down to Jordan Ball, who was celebrating his 22nd birthday today. The front man still had plenty to do but he shrugged off his markers and hammered an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net.
Carlton continued to press and substitute Anthony Howells tested Gresley keeper Liam Roberts with a shot but it was a comfortable save to make.
Langston went close to increasing the advantage when he made a bursting run through the middle but his well struck shot was straight at Steggles. Minutes later Steadman was denied with Steggles making another good block with his legs.
Steadman was given another chance when Langston threaded him a pass but with the keeper rushing out and diving at his feet he could only steer his effort wide of the near post.
Carlton went very close to grabbing a share of the points when a back heeled attempt from Romello Nangle was somehow scraped off the line by Jamie Barrett.
Steggles was proving to be a good substitute keeper as he once more saved his side from falling further behind. Gresley substitute Martin Smyth, who had replaced Joe Brothwell, made a lung busting run down the middle and hit a very well struck shot which was again well blocked by the keeper.
The hosts continued to press hard looking for something out of the game but a quick break saw Ball almost hitting a double but his shot was held at the second attempt by the keeper.
The best chance of the game for Carlton came with only minutes remaining. A corner from the right was not cleared and Nangle on the edge of the box could only blaze his shot over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
