Evo-Stik NPL Division One South
Coach & Horses Ground, Dronfield
Saturday, 27th February 2016, 3.00pm
Sheffield's Steel Too Sharp For Gresley
The grit and determination on top of a fighting spirit seen in the previous two games was sadly lacking in this match with too many players below their expected standard allowing Sheffield to score two soft goals followed by a decent one to finish the game.
Playing on a surface which more resembled a beach rather than a football pitch with the amount of sand on it made the ball act in some unexpected ways, bouncing sometimes and not at other times.
That said, it was the same for both sides but it didn't help the football with the ball spending more time in the air rather than on the ground.
Gresley had to make changes to their starting eleven with Gary Ricketts missing the first of four games die to his ban. John Guy was given the role up front alongside Jordan Ball with Jake Carlisle slotting into the central defence. Matt Roome returned to his usual right back position. With the squad very light at present there were only three substitutes on the bench, one of them being Carl Slater who has recently returned to the club.
Right from the off Sheffield were pushing Gresley back forcing two early corners which came to nothing.
However, on 11 minutes the home side took the lead. A run down the left by Ross Goodwin which looked like Gresley keeper Rob Peet had pushed over the bar but instead he only helped it over his head and into the net. A very soft goal to concede.
Sheffield almost added a second a couple of minutes later when Brian Cusworth was left in acres of space only to head over the bar.
Gresley's first attack of note came on 15 minutes when Guy slipped the ball through to Jack Langston who strode forward after brilliantly controlling ball and clipped over the advancing keeper but the effort went wide.
Gresley had a good shout for a penalty when Roome sends over a challenging ball into the area. Liam Holt went up with Alex Callery who had his arms all over the midfielder bringing him down but referee Mr Pidduck chose to give Holt some stern words rather than Callery who was writhing on the ground!
The visitors did have the ball in the net only to have it ruled out by the raised flag of the assistant referee.
Gresley levelled the scores just after the half hour mark.Guy won the ball on the halfway line and sent the ball to Jordan Ball who in turn finds Roome who then played a superb ball through to Martin Smyth who then coolly slotted the ball past Conor Mitchell.
Sheffield only had to wait five minutes before regaining the lead but it had a slight bit of fortune about it.
A cross from the left was deflected off the unfortunate Carlisle which made the ball loop over to the back post where Brian Cusworth was totally unmarked nodding home from close in.
Gresley looked unsettled by the goal and could have conceded again before the break. Cusworth broke forward and looked certain to score but the outstretched leg of Peet denied him his goal. Then on the stroke of half time Glyn Cotton's fine run down the left ended with a shot that appeared to have crept in at the near post but the home fans cheers were cut short when they realised that the ball had hit the side netting.
The visitor's still couldn't get into gear and early in the second half they fell further behind. James Gregory fired in a shot from the left and Cusworth did well to flick the strongly struck ball on, the header beating Peet.
Gresley did try to create some chances but they looked woefully short of any ideas up front to try and reduce the deficit. There was half a chance as the ball pin balled around the Sheffield goalmouth but there was no Gresley foot able to ram the ball into the net.
With two minutes of normal time remaining Holt received a yellow card which means he will now miss two games due to racking up ten yellow cards.
The visitors looked a beaten side but a rare venture into the area from them saw Guy fire a low shot from an acute angle straight into the arms of Mitchell.
