Evo-Stik NPL Division One South
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 20th February 2016, 3.00pm
Gresley Grab Late Winner
For once Lady Luck was on Gresley's side as they managed to grab all three points in game which Lincoln thought they had a share of the points at the very least for all their hard work.
A goal from Jack Langston right on the final whistle gave the home side the win after substitute Mitchell Griffiths had levelled for the visitors after Gary Ricketts had given his side the lead with both goals coming in the first half.
Manager Gary Ricketts stuck with the side that gave Alfreton a run for their money in midweek. Matt Roome was on the bench but Jean Dakouri was missing with car problems.
On a very heavy pitch both sides found the conditions under foot very tricky but Gresley took the lead on 14 minutes against the run of play. A free kick from the right was played high into the area by Langston were Ricketts rose to loop his header beyond the reach of visiting keeper Richard Walton.
Lincoln were well on top at this stage but could not get that telling ball forward until the 30th minute that is.
Jordan Lemon sends a high ball forward which gets the faintest of touches by Gresley defender John Guy. A shot was blocked by Jamie Barrett followed by another by Jake Carlisle as Griffiths struck for goal. The ball rebounded back to Griffith and this time his aim was true as he stabs the ball into the net.
Lincoln were having the better of the half and coping well with the conditions but were finding the home defence in a stubborn mood with Barrett making a fine block on Rob Norris.
The steadily deteriorating conditions was doing neither side any favours but Gresley have the final say of the first half with Liam Holt hitting a superb low shot that whistled past the post.
Lincoln came out in the second half where they'd left off in the first pressing Gresley back and Holt was needed to clear an effort off the line. Gresley keeper Rob Peet did well minutes later to hold onto a powerful header from the unmarked Jack McGovern from close in - a good chance squandered by the visitors.
The action went to the other end and it was the visitors having to defend. A cross into the box was fumbled by Walton. Ricketts managed to scramble the ball back to Martin Smyth who fired in a low shot towards the unguarded net only for Michael Jacklin to clear the effort off the line.
Gresley were having their best spell of game and Langston hit a superb strike which just cleared the bar.
Lincoln thought they should have had a penalty when Carlisle appeared to have brought down Griffiths in the area but it would have been a harsh decision and the referee Mark Tinsley waved away any appeal.
The visitors had another clear chance to take the lead when a cross from the left by McGovern found Sean Wright unmarked in the centre of the area but the header went wide with the goal gaping.
Lincoln went close again. A free kick by Norris is played to substitute Gary King who made his way towards the bye line before hitting a low shot which Peet did well to hold at his near post.
Unbelievably, that moment of good fortune, which in many games this season has seemed to abandoned Gresley, arrived almost on the final whistle to hand Gresley all three points and to send Lincoln back home wondering how they'd lost that game.
Smyth slipped the ball through for Langston who raced into the area before hitting a shot which was blocked. In other games, the ball would have gone anywhere rather than to a Gresley player but this time the ball very kindly came back to Langston who didn't need a second chance hammering the ball into the bottom corner.
Yes, a bit of a smash and grab in the end but it's about time that Gresley had that bit of good fortune.
