Evo-Stik NPL League Division One South
The Marston Stadium, Belper
Monday, 29th August 2016, 3.00pm
Belper Nailed
Gresley travelled the short distance to Christchurch Meadow on Bank Holiday Monday to take on Belper Town and they made it a successful visit when they beat their host with two goals from Pearson Mwanyongo.
Still with players out through injury manager Damion Beckford-Quailey had the welcome return of Courtney Meade who had missed the previous couple of games due to work commitments.
Belper fielded no fewer than five former Gresley players Jon Guy, Eric Graves, Alex Steadman, Jermaine Hollis and Kyle Bryant with Jordan Ball on the bench.
On a surprisingly lush surface which made it slightly difficult for both sides to control and use the ball the referee Steven Abbott set the standard in which he was going to control the game with Guy going into the notebook after just 4 minutes and Lucas Harrison following him 6 minutes later both for mistimed tackles.
On 17 minutes Mr Abbott took things one step further as he showed Gresley's Dexter Morris-Clarke a straight red card for what was a poor tackle on Guy which was made all the more distasteful by Guy's sly smile at the Gresley bench as he lay supposedly hurt on the grass.
However, actions like that have a habit of coming back to bite you as Guy himself found himself being asked to leave the pitch later in the game.
Gresley almost handed Town a gift when Matt Roome's header was woefully short of reaching his keeper Rob Peet and Steadman nipped in but his shot lacked any power and flew straight into the arms of Peet.
Steadman went close again just before the half hour mark but this time his effort went into the side netting followed a couple of minutes later with Jonathan Williams firing straight at Peet. The Gresley keeper was the busier of the two keepers making another very good save to keep the scores level.
Almost on the closing whistle of the first half Guy received his marching orders after blocking a shot on goal with his hand. Referee Mr Abbott adjudged that the ball was not heading into the net but as the defender had earlier been yellow carded it was inevitable that Guy would receive his red card after being shown a second yellow.
The spot kick was taken by Mwanyongo who beat keeper Danny Haystead to give Gresley the lead at half time although Williams' shot which flew fractionally over the bar could have denied them in the final seconds.
Belper came out strongly for the second half and Peet was required again to make a fine save to deny the home side from leveling.
However, it was Gresley who scored next as a result of some dogged and determined work from Mwanyongo. He collected the ball just inside Belper's half and drove forward shaking off the attention of several defenders and just as he looked like he was going to lose possession his determination saw him strike the ball past Haystead.
On the hour mark Belper reduced the deficit. A free kick on the right taken by the impressive Williams was met by the head of Charlie Gatter who, unchallenged, flicked the ball past Peet and into the far corner of the net.
As was to be expected Belper now saw a chance of getting something from the game and a glorious chance fell to Steadman but his shot was well blocked by Peet with the follow up smashed over the bar.
The best chance for Belper to level proceeding again fell to Steadman who rose the highest to powerfully head a cross at the far post goalwards only for a superb save from Peet tipping the ball away for a corner.
Belper were piling on the pressure with Steadman bursting through the back line only for his final shot not troubling Peet as the weak shot was caught easily. Gatter then had a half chance but his header flew fractionally wide of the far post.
Despite the previous 15 minutes or so being played in the Gresley half, it was the visitors who almost extended their advantage. Reece Morris burst forward cut in and struck a ferocious shot which clattered the junction of post and bar with Haystead a spectator. With the goal frame still vibrating the diminutive forward then had his follow up shot blocked.
Gresley now turn their attention to the trip to Deeping in the FA Cup on Saturday.
