Evo-Stik NPL League Division One South
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 13th August 2016, 3.00pm
Gresley Make A Late Point
Gresley played their 'get out of jail' card to rescue a point when all three looked certain to have gone to Rugby Town as late, late goals from Courtney Meade and Pearson Mwanyongo saved the day.
As the clock showed 90 minutes Meade struck with a header and three minutes later Mwanyongo scored from the spot to prevent Valley's winning start to their season.
Gresley almost found themselves behind with less than a minute gone when Andy Gooding's corner from the left eventually came out to Richard Lavery who looped a header back over keeper Rob Peet only to see the ball come back off the bar.
The home side's closest chance came from one of Valley's own defenders as Nathan Fox headed Tindai Chitiza's cross from the left narrowly over his own bar.
Gresley were fortunate again on the half hour as Peet attempted to claim a ball near his right post but missed it giving Rugby a chance which Peet managed to touch over the bar.
Gooding had a good chance to give his side the lead when he found himself through and in on goal bit his final shot struck the far post. Meade forced Rugby keeper Ben Heath into a save as he cut in and the ball was pushed out for a corner.
It was then the turn of Peet to keep the first half all square when he saved from David Kolodynski's shot on the turn.
The second half had barely got going when Rugby took the lead. A ball into Gresley's box was not dealt with and Jake Woolley managed to touch the ball on to Kolodynski who's scuffed shot took what seemed an age to trickle over the line.
Rare chances for the Moatmen were not being capitalised on with Meade firing a weak effort straight at Heath.
Gresley made a change on 57 minutes bringing on Reece Morris and Matt Melbourne for Michael Pearson and Ben Harris and they seemed to give their side what had been missing up until then, a threat going forward.
Morris hit a shot which took a deflection looping over to the far post to Meade who, only 7 yards out, could only blaze his shot well over the bar.
Gresley were looking far more threatening in the final 20 minutes with Lucas Harrison drilling a low shot from distance which hit a defender sending the ball high into the box with Heath having to tip the ball over the bar.
Mwanyongo then hit a low shot which Heath had difficulty holding but managed to do so before Meade could pounce.
Against the run of play Rugby doubled their lead. A very questionable free kick was awarded 20 yards out and Gooding hit a superb curling shot into the top corner.
If Valley thought they'd won it with only minutes remaining they were shown that this Gresley side will not give up. With normal time up a good run down the right by Chitiza saw a cross to the far post where Meade was waiting to head the ball home.
The clock was now into time added on and unbelievably Gresley drew level. Morris was making a nuisance of himself in the area and appeared to be brought down but the referee ignored the half-hearted appeal. However, Mwanyongo was adjudged to have been felled by Aiden Print in the area with referee Neil Pratt pointing at the spot. Mwanyongo took the kick sending the keeper the wrong way to give his side an unlikely share of the points.
Gresley's never-say-die attitude earned them a point and also the majority of Beckford-Quailey's side a taste of what level 4 football and especially what the Northern Premier League is all about.
