Evo-Stik NPL Division One South
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Tuesday, 1st March 2016, 7.45pm
Comfortable Win For Gresley
Gresley continued their home form as they won their fifth consecutive game at the Moat Ground with a 2-0 victory over Kidsgrove Athletic.
After a disappointing performance at Sheffield on Saturday Gresley manager Gary Ricketts got the response he'd asked for with a comfortable win.
Ricketts made changes to his starting eleven with John Guy returning to his usual defensive role alongside Jake Carlisle and Liam Holt given the role to support Jordan Ball up front. Skipper Jamie Barrett was moved in a position just in front of the back four.
Although the visitors had been finding the last few games difficult they started brightly with Gresley keeper Rob Peet having to tip over the bar Chris Boast's good effort.
The home side's first chance of note fell to Ball who beat the offside trap but after racing forward could only fire his shot well wide of the far post.
Gresley took the lead on 23 minutes. Martin Smyth was tripped on the right edge of the area. Jack Langston delivered a superb ball to the back post where Holt racing in managed to get his head to the ball and nodded it home.
Kidsgrove went close to levelling just before the break when Jack Sharratt ended a fine run down the left with a shot that Guy cleared off the line.
The first half ended with both sides having to make changes. Gresley's Holt hobbled off with an ankle injury replaced by Albert Lansdowne and Grove's Jonathan Kapend also helped off the pitch to be replaced by Jordan Johnson.
Gresley made the first chance of the second half with Chris Richards forcing a decent low save from keeper Harry Pickering.
Smyth went close to extending his side's lead with a low shot which was pushed away by the young Port Vale loanee keeper for a corner. Langston swung in the flag kick and Carlisle headed powerfully but straight into the arms of Pickering.
Gresley did double their advantage on 66 minutes from a good move. Lucas Harrison started the move slipping the ball to Langston who in turn helped it on to Richards and finally Ball. Ball avoided his markers and slipped the ball under the advancing Pickering where Richards was waiting at the far post to have the final touch.
The Moatmen were defending resolutely with Smyth throwing himself in front of substitute Johnson's making a superb block as the striker fired goalwards.
To the visitor's credit they kept going forward into the final couple of minutes looking to at least half the deficit with Gresley keeper Peet denying Tom Norris with an outstretched leg. Anthony Malbon tried his luck with a well struck free kick from 22 yards which flew wide but that was the final kick of the game with Gresley claiming another three points and also a clean sheet.
