Match Report  |  Gresley FC vs Shaw Lane AFC

There are some games where supporters must admit their team was beaten by a better side, and this was one of them.

Shaw Lane showed why they are considered by many as favourites to be at the top of the pile come the end of the season. They were quicker at closing down, first to most balls and they worked harder than their hosts for most of the game. Add to that they took their chances when they arose and it was tribute to returning Gresley keeper that the margin wasn't larger.

The stats show that the visitors had 10 attempts on goal compared to Gresley's two which sums up the match in all honesty. Gresley's goal was the one that looked the most threatened as wave after wave pushed the hosts back into their own half.

Any attempts by Gresley to try and cut through a solid Shaw Lane back line was snuffed out comfortably and with some choices of the final ball being poor Gresley found it difficult to make any breakthrough.

Gresley manager Damion Beckford-Qualiley was forced into changes with Tom Manship and Tendai Chitiza both absent through injury but there was a welcome return between the posts as Rob Peet returned after missing the last five games also through injury.

The Ducks went close to opening the scoring as early as the third minute but Peet diving to his right denied Jake Beesley his goal.

The pressure continued with a good move between Alex Byrne and Beesley with the latter hitting a shot from the left going just wide of the near post.

Jake Scott then smashed a shot which flew over the bar from distance followed by a shot from Byrne which went straight into the midriff of Peet.

Peet then tipped Byrne's stinging shot over the bar as Shaw Lane looked certain to open their account and it came on 29 minutes. A ball was only half cleared to the edge of the penalty area where prolific striker Gary Allott was lurking and he took his chance well burying the ball in the back of the net.

Allott went close to adding another to his tally hitting a shot on the turn which went straight at Peet. The first half ended with Shaw Lane camped in the Gresley half with a cross from Byrne finding Allott whose shot fizzed past the near post.

The second half started as the first had ended with Gresley defending. A clumsy free kick on the edge of the area allowed Byrne to try his luck but his shot went just the wrong side of the far post.

Peet was alert on 64 minutes making a fine save tipping Byrne's free kick over the bar but the pressure was relentless with four consecutive corners conceded and from the final one of this group the Ducks extended their lead. Ben Algar swung over a corner from the right and was met by Spencer Harris who volleyed a low shot into the far bottom corner.

Gresley's best two chances came with just ten minutes of normal time remaining. Matt Melbourne, who had replaced Ben Harris at half time, struck a shot which visiting keeper Jonathan Stewart could only parry out to Pearson Mwanyongo but the normally reliable winger could only fire the rebound wide of the target.

Reece Morris then had a half chance cutting in from the right but put his shot wide of the near post with arguably two team mates in a far better shooting position in the center of the area.

Shaw Lane's third goal was a result of some careless defending as Gresley failed to deal with a loose ball from a cross allowing Kieran Lugsden the opportunity to drill his shot low across the box and into the net.

The visitors could have added a fourth in time added on but Peet once more saved his side blocking a shot at the near post from Beesley.