Match Report  |  Gresley FC vs Stamford AFC

Before the game kicked off there was a minute's applause in memory of Gresley Rovers' league winning player/manager Paul Futcher who sadly died a few days earlier.

In what was an entertaining game the main talking point was not the sterling second half fightback by ten men Moatmen but some 'interesting' decisions by the referee. Within four minutes Mr Shipley had laid down his mark as to what would be acceptable to him by booking the Gresley skipper for an innocuous foul, going on to dismiss Jamie Barret in 26 minutes for a second offence and booking five visiting players.

Gresley manager Damion Beckford-Quailey made two changes from Tuesday with Matt Melbourne replacing Courtney Meade and keeper Tom Allan drafted in for only his second apperance of the season to replace the injured Rob Peet.

The home side opened well with Pearson Mwanyongo forcing keeper Sam Donkin to tip his looping shot over the bar.

Stamford went close to opening the score when Curtis Hartley headed past the near post but three minutes they were in front when Grant Ryan headed home unchallenged a cross from the right into the top far corner.

On 26 minutes Gresley were down to ten men when Barrett was shown a second card by the referee but the Moatmen didn't drop their heads and continued to press forward looking for a leveller and they went close with Tendai Chitiza narrowly heading Ben Harris's cross from the right wide of the near post.

Chitiza then turned provider when he picked out Melbourne in the middle who then thumped a shot which blistered the wrong side of the upright.

Allan needed to be alert pushing Ryan's shot away but as the first half was drawing to an end there was another controversial decision by the referee. Chitiza got the better of defender Jon Challinor who then cynically brought him down for what was surely a red card offence. After a few minutes' delay, amazingly Mr Shipley only waved a yellow card angering the supporters who were just a couple of yards away from the offence.

The resulting free kick was cleared and it seemed that the Gresley players were still seething with the injustice of the last few minutes and switched off to allow Curtis Hartley to slide the ball past Allan at his near post.

There was only one side threatening to score in the second half and that was Gresley but they were being denied by some agricultural tacking from Stamford which was largely gong unpunished by the referee.

On 62 minutes Harris was replaced by Reece Morris who was soon the target of some dubious tackles one of which should have seen Challinor this time surely take an early bath for what looked a dead cert second yellow card. However, the Gresley supporters nearest to the foul were outraged to see the defender receive a few words from the referee but no card!

However, Morris soon had his revenge when he made a fine run down the left and unleashed a vicious shot which was parried but Leandro Browne was quick to react forcing the ball into the net.

At times, it was difficult to see who had one less player as Gresley were on top for most of the second half and their determination paid off when Browne cut in from the left and fired his shot into the net to give his side hope of a share of the spoils at least.

Gresley looked the likeliest side to win the game but because they were pressing hard they were caught by a sucker punch as substitute John King was allowed to race forward before slipping the ball past Allan with just two minutes remaining.

That goal was very unjust on Gresley as they had shown what this team can do especially against the odds and they should have at the very least had a point to show for all their hard work. Stamford will know they've got away with the win they really didn't deserve.