Evo-Stik NPL Division One South
The Scholars Ground, Chasetown
Saturday, 19th December 2015, 3.00pm
Scholars Edge Gresley Out
Gresley managed to play their first competitive game for almost two weeks and as to be expected looked a little match rusty for the first five or ten minutes but as the game went on they came back into it and to be honest deserved a share of the points in the end despite playing the final 30 minutes with only ten men after Gary Ricketts was harshly shown a straight red card.
Ricketts had to make a change to his side with captain Jamie Barrett absent due to a stomach upset meaning John Guy having to come into the heart of the defence alongside Jake Carlisle.
The visitors were caught cold from the off and Chasetown could have taken the lead with hardly a minute on the clock but keeper Rob Peet made a good block to deny Ryan Wynter at his near post.
Gresley were still rocking when the Scholars took the lead. A free kick from the left was headed into the far corner of the net by Danny Edwards - the wind assisting the ball which looked to heading outside the far post.
The visitors hit back forcing two corners as they began to find their form and on 19 minutes they should have levelled when Martin Smyth was brought down in the area. Ricketts chose to take the spot kick but it was an easy one for home keeper John Bateman to deal with diving to his left.
Smyth then went close himself but his shot flew wide while at the other end Peet was keeping Stan Mugisha's shot out.
As the first half drew to an end Chasetown went close again when George Washbourne, who was giving the Gresley right back a torrid time, sent over a fine cross but Wynter could only head wide of the far post.
Gresley were level within five minutes of the second half starting. Awarded a free kick on the left just outside the penalty area, Jack Langston hit a shot which appeared to fly through the crowded box and into the far corner.
However, the celebrations had not finished when Chasetown regained the lead just a minute later. A ball down the right seemed to find Paul Sullivan in an offside position which was ignored by the assistant referee and play was allowed to continue with the Gresley players protesting loudly. Sullivan made the cross which found Wynter in the centre of the box who smashed the ball into the net.
On the hour mark Gresley were down to ten men. What looked a fair but hard tackle by Ricketts as he appeared to get the ball was made all the worse by the protestations from the home bench and players and the referee had decided it warranted a straight red much to the Gresley players disgust.
In past matches that decision could easily have seen the visitors almost throw in the towel but to Gresley's very great credit they fought back and indeed were the better side for the remainder of the game.
Visiting defender Lucas Harrison must have thought Christmas Day had arrived early as he very nearly handed Chasetown their third goal. For some reason he tried a back pass which was woefully short rolling to Sullivan who tried to walk the ball home. He rounded the advancing Peet before taking another couple of touches allowing Carlisle to block the final shot on the line.
Gresley were very unlucky not to have secured a share of the points. A free kick almost in the same spot has Langford's successful previous effort was once more taken by the midfielder but this time his well struck shot clipped the top of the bar.
The visitors ended the game well on top but just couldn't get the rewards their efforts deserved. They now have a run of extremely tough games coming up the first at home on Boxing Day against near neighbours and second placed Coalville Town followed by a trip to high flying Spalding United on Monday 28th.
