Evo-Stik NPL Division One South
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Tuesday, 22nd March 2016, 7.45pm
Sloppy Gresley Lose Again
Gresley's dismal run extended to six consecutive league defeats with the latest one at the Moat Ground as they handed their visitors Romulus three goals, a mountain they could not overcome.
Some sloppy defending was seized upon and Gresley found themselves two goals adrift with just 12 minutes on the clock.
Despite a slight glimmer of hope in the second half when the Moatmen reduced the deficit again they were authors of their own demise as twice more they conspired to hand the visitors goals.
This season has been one of constant chop and change in team selection and this game was no different. Absent were Lucas Harrison (work commitments), Chris Richards (hamstring), Martin Smyth (hamstring) and Jake Carlisle (suspended) so in came new signings Kieran Bexon, Matt Oliver and Brad Smith.
This was the fourth meeting between the two sides with the visitors yet to claim a win over their hosts but within a couple of minutes the Roms were soon threatening with a shot from Jake Donnelly having to be pushed away by Rob Peet .
The pressure was building and it paid dividends on 10 minutes when Malachi Farquharson was allowed to turn in the area before rifling a low shot into the far bottom corner.
It went from bad to worse a minute later when the home side found themselves two goals down. A high ball was missed by Jamie Barrett and Charisma Agbonlahor ttok advantage and lobbed the ball over keeper Rob Peet, who was well off his line, and into the net.
Things could have got even more bleak when Farquharson was afforded acres of space in the centre of the area but put his header over the bar.
Gresley were struggling to find each other with their passes as time after time the ball either flew too high or too wide of team members - frustrating for the players and supporters alike.
The home side did have half a chance just after the half hour mark when a corner from the left from Jack Langston eluded every Gresley player in the box when just a touch would have steered the ball into the net.
The first half ended with a free kick for Gresley but Liam Holt's shot went over the bar.
Gresley made a change at half time with Brad Smith replacing Jamie Barrett who was suffering with a slight hamstring injury.
The deficit was reduced on 59 minutes. Matt Roome made a good run down the right and fired into the area a low cross which Langston swept into the net. Was a comeback on the cards? Sadly no, it proved to be a false dawn.
However, a couple of minutes later things may have changed when a corner from the left by Langston found Ricketts at the far post who headed the ball back towards the opposite post. It looked certain to have gone in but the ball struck the bar and flew back across the face of the goal - unlucky!
Just when Gresley seemed to have come back into the game they gave away another sloppy goal. A corner from the right was fumbled by Peet and Luke Keen headed the loose ball into the net despite efforts from Ricketts and Ryan King to keep the ball out.
Yet another gifted goal rubbed salt into the already gaping wounds of the Moatmen. A ball down the right should have been dealt with by Michael Pearson but his touch only puts the ball into the path of Heldilberto Vilela-Santos who accepted the chance by cutting inside beating his markers before slotting the ball coolly home.
