Match Report  |  Gresley FC vs Alfreton Town

Alfreton Town can feel themselves a tad lucky to be heading to the Derbyshire Senior Cup final against Belper Town as Gresley more than matched their National League North opponents in an entertaining game at the Moat Ground.

Unfortunately, for the home side, it was a slip by goalkeeper Rob Peet that was the difference between the two sides at the end.

Gresley manager Gary Ricketts kept faith with the same starting eleven that faced Leek Town on Saturday with Matt Roome still unavailable. Ryan King returned to the squad with a place on the bench.

The Moatmen started well but found it difficult to create anything threatening but on 19 minutes they took the lead with a good move. Lucas Harrison sent over a superb diagonal pass all of sixty yards from his own half to Martin Smyth over on the right. Smyth controlled the ball cut inside his marker and struck a low shot across Alferton's keeper Matt Duke and into the far bottom corner of the net.

Town responded almost immediately when Sam Smith was sent in on goal but Peet made a good save pushing the ball away for a corner.

Gresley had a chance to double their advantage just after the half hour. A corner from the right by Jack Langston fell to Jake Carlisle but his shot from 12 yards flew over the bar.

Against the run of play Alfreton levelled five minutes before the break. A corner taken by Andi Thano was flicked on by Jamie Jackson but despite the efforts of the Gresley defenders the ball found itself in the net.

Gresley continued where they'd left off in the first half putting Town under pressure but as before they just could not find that touch in front of goal.

Town, who had hardly ventured into their final third of the pitch almost grabbed the lead. A huge punt from Duke allowed Joe Leesley, who had replaced Ryan Wilson in the first half, to get the better of Harrison. Leesley then picked out Jordan Robertson but with the goal at his mercy could only blaze his shot well over the bar.

The visitors were having their best spell of the game and went close again. Jackon, who looked suspiciously offside, broke through the Gresley back line only to be denied by a fine save from Peet.

Unfortunately, the keeper then had a moment he'd rather forget. Harrison headed the ball back to his keeper who looked to have had the situation cover. However, the ball squirmed from his hands and Leesley took the opportunity to take the ball and slot it into the empty net. That was a bitter blow for the Moatmen who had arguably been the better side.

Liam Holt tested Duke with a stunning drive which the goalkeeper did well to push away while at the other end Peet needed to be alert to stop Leesley low drive at his near post.

The game ended in a moment of controversy. Gresley thought they'd grabbed a late equaliser when Harrison slung a free kick into the box where Duke appeared to spill the ball which then hit the back of Ricketts challenging and flew into the net but the referee adjudged that the big striker had jumped into the keeper and so disallowed the goal much to the anger of Gresley players and supporters behind the goal.