Pre-Season Friendly
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Tuesday, 12th July 2016, 7.45pm
Gresley Continue to Impress
Gresley continued their good pre-season form with a comprehensive win over Evo-Stik League Premier Division Barwell at the Moat Ground.
Manager Damion Beckford-Quailey made the expected changes to his side as he begins to sort out his squad for the new season. There were a couple of new faces and others coming back after missing the Rainworth game.
The Moatmen got off to a poor start going a goal behind in the 2nd minute when a free kick from the left was headed back into the box from the far post to Nathan Edgington who stabbed the ball home from close in.
Gresley soon settled and went close to levelling two minutes later when Matt Melbourne burst through the Barwell back line and despite his shirt being constantly pulled by a defender he managed to get his shot off only to see it fly past the near post.
Pearson Mwangowa was causing the Barwell left back all sorts of trouble leaving him for dead on several occasions. One of his mazy runs ended a good move into the box before curling his shot just wide of the far post.
Gresley drew level on 26 minutes. A free kick by Eddy Samba 20 yards out took a slight deflection and the low shot wrong footed the Barwell keeper and flew into the net.
The home side were getting on top and went close to extending their lead. More good play saw shots go wide of the far post and one fired over the bar as Gresley ended the first half strongly.
Within minutes of the second half starting Samba had another chance for Gresley hitting his shot wide. But, they didn't have to wait much longer to get the goal their play deserved. Courtney Meade, who had come on at the break, slipped the ball through to Tandai Chitiza who strode forward before coolly beating keeper Lucas Bailey.
Gresley looked as if they could score on every attack and their lead was increased on 58 minutes when the ball was played out to substitute Michael Pearson who cut in from the left before firing a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.
It's no exaggeration to say that Gresley could have added at least two more goals as they began to boss the game. Meade went close after he beat the keeper to the ball but his shot grazed the outside of the far post.
A corner from the right by Pearson was half cleared and the ball was returned into the box where Melbourne was inches from connecting.
The second half ended in a similar way to the first with Gresley firmly in charge sending the Moat Ground faithful home smiling after seeing their side play so well.
