Match Report  |  Lincoln United vs Gresley FC

Any Gresley supporter who traveled to Lincoln would have been wondering at halftime 'how on earth are we leading by two goals?'

Gresley were under pressure from the start and could hardly get out of their own half for very nearly half an hour or so but then a chance appeared totally against the run of play which was taken by Martin Smyth followed just before the break by another converted chance this time by Gary Ricketts and so somehow the visitors trotted off the pitch at the interval with a two goal lead.

Caretaker manager Dave Langston made one change to his starting line-up with Smyth replacing the absent Alex Steadman.

Lincoln came out of the blocks with all guns blazing and were soon pressing Gresley back into their own half and their pressure almost resulted in a goal. A free kick was conceded on the left taken by Jack McGovern and it needed a superb save from Rob Peet to deny the home side the lead tipping the ball over the bar. Gresley ventured out of their own half with Jack Langston firing just wide.

The impressive McGovern was handed another free kick chance when Lavell Whites's heavy challenge was penalised by referee Chris Hunter but again Peet was on hand to make a catch just under his bar.

Lincoln then forced four corners which came to nothing but a mix-up between Chris Richards and John Guy let Kallum Smith have a shot which whistled wide of the upright.

Gresley took a shock lead on 36 minutes due largely to the persistence of the three players involved. The ball came out to Ricketts over on the flank who then found White who in turn sent the ball into the area to Smyth. Smyth's touch was a bit heavy and he stumbled but he sorted himself out quickly to win the ball back before firing past home keeper Sam Vince.

With two minutes left of the half Langston had a good chance to extend his side's advantage. White did well to shield the ball before rolling a pass to Langston who's shot looked goal bound until the knee of Vince blocked the ball for a corner. The first flag kick was put out again but the second paid dividends. Langston swung over a tempting ball which appeared to get the faintest of flicks from Ricketts as he headed the ball into the far corner.

In this game of the proverbial two halves Gresley took the game to the hosts in the second half and had chances to put the game away before Lincoln clawed a goal back. With only a couple of minutes on the clock Jordan Ball fired a low shot wide and Langston also fired White's pass wide.

Lincoln reduced the deficit on 52 minutes through a superbly struck free kick from Paul Grimes. Guy had given a free kick away on the edge of the area and Grimes managed to steer his kick around the defensive wall and past Peet who stood no chance of saving the shot.

McGovern almost levelled proceeding a minute later when he slammed a shot which had Peet beaten but the ball flew wide of the post.

Ricketts put a header straight at Vince as Gresley responded well to conceding the goal but a defensive lapse almost let Lincoln in as Michael Jacklin's free kick was allowed to sail into the area to the head of the unmarked Sean Wright but he could only head the ball straight into the arms of Peet at the far post.

White went close to having his name on the score sheet but Vince reacted well to push the effort away for a corner.

Gresley regained their two goal lead on 66 minutes with a well taken goal. Matt Roome threaded a pass through the home defence for Ball to run onto. With Vince rushing out of his area Ball beat him to the ball and took it around the keeper and despite a defender closing him down he coolly slotted the ball into the unguarded net.

The visitors could have increased the lead with chances coming towards the end of the game. Ball slipped the ball back to Langston who forced Vince into a good save. A dashing run into the area by Richards saw him pick out Ball who's first time strike looked certain to end in the back of the net but Jacklin bravely headed the bullet like shot off his line.

Despite a set of corners late in the game from the home side Gresley hung on to take all three well earned points.