FA Trophy Preliminary Round Replay
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Tuesday, 6th October 2015, 7.45pm
Gresley Fight Off The Roms
Gresley deservedly went through to the next round of the FA Trophy but it took a hard fought replay to see them home.
Caretaker manager Dave Langston had to make a change to his side that had grabbed a draw last Friday with Lavel White missing due to injury. A surprise move saw the back line left intact with Jamie Barrett playing in front of them and it worked.
As was expected it was another tough game but one that Gresley handled well and a late goal from Jack Langston claimed the win and a trip to Matlock in the next round.
This performance and the one at Romulus could arguably be regarded as the best so far this season with solid defending to keep out a team who have been scoring freely and creating chances.
The first half was a cagey affair but it was the home side who carved out the first chance when Chris Richards' volley flew just wide of the near post. Romulus went close themselves with Mark Branch's free kick from 22 yards whistling fractionally over the bar.
Gresley took the lead on 28 minutes with a good move down the right. Matt Roome slipped the ball to Martin Smyth who in turn fired a low cross to the onrushing Jordan Ball who rammed the ball home from close in.
Ball went close to doubling his tally early in the second half. His run into the area created space and he fired a shot which Romulus keeper Chris Gemmell superbly blocked with his legs. Ball picked up the loose ball but this time his shot was straight at Gemmell.
A minute later Romulus went close to levelling the game but Henry Eze's bullet like header from Branch's corner came back of the bar.
The visitors had more success on 70 minutes when Branch beat his marker, drove into the area and hit an unstoppable shot which left Liam Roberts a spectator.
Substitute Roland Agbor went close heading Branch's free kick over. Agbor had an even better chance a few minutes later. A good move down the right ended with a cross to Agbor in space but he launched his shot well over the bar when well placed.
With extra time looking a certainty Gresley forced two corners with the second one paying dividends. A short corner on the left was played to Jack Langston who drilled a low shot which fizzed across the box and into the far bottom corner of the net.
