Evo-Stik NPL Division One South
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Tuesday, 27th October 2015, 7.45pm
Luckie Stafford
Stafford manager Neil Kitching must be wondering how his side managed to come away from the Moat Ground with all three points after being out played by their hosts for much of an entertaining game on a damp Tuesday evening in South Derbyshire.
This was a much improved performance by Gresley and if you'd have not been aware who was sitting on top of the table you could easily have been forgiven for thinking it was the men in red who were leading the way.
The only goal that separated the two teams came early in the game from a low shot from Jazz Luckie that beat debutant loan keeper Lloyd Ransome who had stepped in from Hednesford with both Rob Peet and Ryan Swift sick and injured respectively. Jean Dakouri also made his debut for the home side.
It was a frantic opening few minutes with Jordan Ball finding Coutney Meade with his pass but unfortunately the winger scuffed his effort wide.
Meade then turned provider sending over an inviting cross which Gary Ricketts got to before Rangers' keeper Adam Whitehouse but the header went wide.
Rangers' goal had a slice of luck about it. A shot from Matthew Wood was blocked but the ball fell into the path of Luckie, rather than to safety, who drilled a low shot back giving Ransome no chance as the ball flew into the bottom corner. Ransome was not beaten again and he denied Nathan Rooney with a fine save from his free kick.
Ball had a good chance to level the scores just after the half hour mark. A good move down the right ended with Meade sending in a cross into the area but the Gresley man could only steer his effort wide of the far post.
On the stroke of half time Gresley went close again. John Guy headed a throw-in down to Jack Langston who hit a low shot which Whitehouse only half blocked but he managed to recover and grab the ball as it was heading over his goal line - a big let off for Stafford.
The early period of the second half was broken up by a series of free kicks and the visitors starting to slow the game down and waste time which disappointingly the referee didn't stamp out.
Ball had another good chance to get his side back on terms. Meade curled a lofted ball which beat the visiting defence but Ricketts on the back post headed the ball back into the middle to the unmarked Ball but he didn't connect sweetly and frustratingly the chance ended up in the midriff of Whitehouse rather than in the net.
Gresley were getting on top and a free kick from Langston picked out Ricketts at the far post but the final header flew wide.
On 71 minutes there was a moment of controversy when Ricketts was pulled back by Wayne Daniel as he ran through in on goal on the edge of the area. At first referee Robert Cairns did nothing until his assistant caught his eye and summoned him to have a word. With Daniel looking the last man and Ricketts on his way into the area the Gresley faithful were certain that the Stafford captain would be making his way to the dressing room but to the annoyance of both players and supporters only a yellow card was shown.
The free kick was well struck by Martin Smyth but Whitehouse got down well to push the effort away but Ball got onto the loose ball quickly but Daniel managed to block his shot.
Despite Gresley being the better side for most of the second half they almost gave away another goal. A mix-up between Jamie Barrett and Matt Roome allowed substitute Neil Harvey to nip in but a fine save from Ransome getting a strong hand to the ball pushed it away for a corner. The resultant flag kick brought another great save from the Gresley keeper. Jermain Johnson drove the ball goalwards where it's helped on its way by Luckie and the Stafford players and their travelling support behind the goal were already celebrating only to see Ransome pull off an amazing save.
When the final whistle sounded you could see from the way the visiting management joyfully celebrated that they had got away with a result that they barely deserved.
