Match Report  |  Gresley FC vs Daventry Town

There is only one word (I'm sure you could think of others) that could sum up Gresley's performance and that is woeful. They were out played and out thought by the opposition and the defending left a lot to be desired. And, to make things worse three of Town's goals were the result of set pieces with their central defender Jason Lee claiming what looked like the perfect hat-trick.

Gresley looked totally out of sorts and there were surprises in the team selection with Matt Roome and John Guy consigned to the bench replaced by debutants Melanius Mullarkey and Joe Hopewell respectively.

Striker Gary Ricketts and goalkeeper Calum Ferrie were not fit enough for the game so in the keeper position Lloyd Ransome returned on loan from parent club Hednesford.

Things looked quite good in the early stages for the Moatmen having two decent chances to take the lead in the first ten minutes by failing to take them.

Jack Langston made a good run forward but his shot went straight at Ben Heath and a couple of minutes later Courtney Meade also made a good run this time down the left and picked out Jordan Ball but his shot came back off the base of the far post and away to safety.

Town took the lead with their first attack of the game. After winning a corner Barry Deacon sent over a cross into the area where Lee, rising the highest, powerfully headed into the bottom corner.

The visitors almost doubled their advantage six minutes later when another corner from Deacon found Mitch Piggon who turned and fired towards the top corner but Ransome flew to his left superbly pushing the ball away.

Gresley midfielder Sam Wood laid on the perfect ball through for Meade who run into the area but fired over the bar with his team mate Ball waiting unmarked on the far edge of the area. Mullarkey made a run down the right before cutting in and striking his shot just outside the near post.

Gresley managed to level the scores before the half time break. Awarded a free kick around 22 yards out in the middle of the pitch. Langston took the kick and hit a low shot which beat the wall and keeper and into the net despite Heath getting a slight touch on the ball.

Unfortunately, Gresley could not hold on until the break as Town regained the lead just three minutes later. From another set piece Gresley conceded again. A corner by Joe Curtis on the right seemed to be missed by the normally solid Jake Carlisle and Lee was in the right place to hammer the ball into the net.

Salt was rubbed in Gresley's wounds as Town added another goal on the stroke of half time. A ball was sent over from the left into the box and Ransome did well to get a decent punch on the ball but it was to be Lee's day as the ball fell very kindly for the defender who returned the ball with interest from the edge of the area to complete his first half hat trick.

Despite Gresley forcing early corners in the second half they looked totally out of sorts and Daventry sensed it and began to play with a swagger that a two goal lead can give you and just after the hour mark Gresley's dismal day was completed when the visitors added to their misery.

Mitch Piggon found Nabil Shariff on the left who then cut in before slotting the ball past the exposed Ransome and into the far corner.

Daventry were well on top with Gresley not looking like getting back into the game as their heads had dropped. There was a bit of a glimmer when Langston struck a superbly hit volley which Heath had to take two attempts to hold on to.

At the other end it took another fine save from Ransome to prevent the score line from getting embarrassing denying Deacon who had burst into the area before hitting a stinging shot.

Carlisle went close to making the score a little more respectable meeting Langston's corner but his header was cleared off the line.

Daventry had one more chance to make Gresley's afternoon one to forget when referee Steven Abbot awarded them a soft penalty. Carlisle and Kieran Fitzgerald ran into the area side by side and the slightest of touched brought out a flamboyant falling over and the spot kick was awarded. However, justice was done as Shariff's kick was a poor one going straight to Ransome.

With the Gresley faithful leaving the Moat Ground before the final whistle wondering when they will next see a Gresley win and with fortress Moat just a fleeting memory if manager Scott Goodwin wondered what a tough job it will be to get the Moatmen firing again especially at home he certainly does now after this dismal showing!