Evo-Stik NPL Division One South
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 30th January 2016, 3.00pm
Vikings Put To The Sword
Anyone counting the card tally in this game would be forgiven if they thought it was a feisty affair but nothing could be further from the truth as there was hardly a bad tackle all game!
After last night's deluge it was a surprise that this game went ahead but it did on a heavy pitch which didn't deter either side from trying to play football on it.
Gresley made it three league wins at the Moat Ground as they overcome a determined Goole side and when the homeside was reduced to ten men with five minutes remaining it led to a nervy conclusion but Gresley held on for the valuable three points.
Manager Gary Ricketts once more had to shuffle his side as keeper Rob Peet rang in early in the morning with illness. Young keeper Max Atkin was called into the action and did well. When Atkin was dismissed late in the game another youngster Daniel Haynes stepped up for the final few minutes.
Ricketts still had Martin Smyth absent but Ryan King, who had missed the midweek game against Tividale, was available.
As against Tividale Gresley started well with Jordan Ball firing wide while at the other end Atkin was on hand to make a fine block with his legs as Matthew Semley ran in on goal. At the other end Ricketts made a good run down the left but his shot was blocked by keeper Thomas Beaurepaire.
Gresley did have the ball in the net minutes later but the upraised flag of the assistant referee denied Ball the opening goal as he was adjudged to have fouled a defender in the build up.
Atkins was having a good debut this time tipping Bobby Johnson's shot from the edge of the areas away for a corner.
Gresley were in front on 24 minutes. Awarded a free kick on the left Jack Langston sent across a good ball into the area and John Guy timed his run right getting the faintest of headers to steer the ball into the net at the far post.
More pressure from the home side saw them double their advantage six minutes later from another set piece. Langston's ball into the area from the right was headed back into the danger area by Jamie Barrett and Ball was waiting to turn the ball past Beaurepaire. Ball had another good chance to increase the lead but his shot didn't trouble the keeper with the shot going straight into his midriff.
Atkins ended a good half for Gresley making a good save blocking Aaron Moxam's low effort.
Gresley made a change at the start of the second half with Jake Carlisle replacing Ryan King who suffered a hip injury at the close of the first half.
Carlisle took up his usual center-half spot with Guy moved into left back and Lucas Harrison pushed up into wide midfield.
Goole's poor afternoon was made worse a few minutes into the half when Robbie Cotton was booked for a trip on Ricketts. As Cotton had been booked in the first half referee Mr Rollason followed showing the yellow card with a red and the front man trudged off to the dressing room.
Lian Holt sent Rickett's racing forward and it appeared that Beaurepaire tried to grab the ball outside his area and brought Ricketts down. The referee made a dubious decision, not the first of the afternoon, awarding the free kick to Goole.
The game had become very scrappy but Ball went close firing wide.
Another contentious decision came with just two minutes of normal time remaining. A ball into Gresley's box saw Atkin go to gather the ball at the same time as Semley. Semley ended up on the ground and the referee made a harsh decision sending the young goal keeper off presumably for denying a goal scoring chance.
Ball was called off and another young keeper Daniel Hyde came on with his first task picking the ball out of the back of the net as Nick Guest slammed home the penalty kick.
Despite an anxious final few minutes Gresley held on to take all three points.
