Evo-Stik NPL League Division One South
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Monday, 2nd January 2017, 3.00pm
All Square At The Moat
Gresley manager Damion Beckford-Quailey said before the Christmas period that he would settle for four points over the two home games. With a win over Stocksbridge on Friday and a point against Belper today he got just that, but he still feels a little disappointed with not grabbing six points as they dominated the Belper game for large periods.
The manager had to play with many of his squad suffering slight injuries such as Matt Melbourne playing with a suspected fractured bone in his foot. Adding to that the news that Alvin Jarvis also suffered a fractured foot which will see him unavailable for 4 to 6 weeks. However, the side he chose played arguably the best game since their dominating performance over Spalding in the FA Trophy in early October.
Before the kick off there was an impeccably observed one minute's silence in memory of the late Belper Town stalwart Tony Treagus.
Both sides served up an entertaining game to warm the supporters on a bitterly cold Moat Ground and credit must be given to the Gresley groundsmen who worked tirelessly during the morning to get the game on after yesterday's heavy rain and the hard frost overnight.
Belper found themselves pressed back for most of the game and were hanging on for the final fifteen minutes or so but
The Nailers forced two early corners which amounted to nothing but on 6 minutes it was Gresley who threatened first with Tendai Chitiza heading Reece Morris's cross from the left straight at visiting keeper Scott Low.
Melbourne later fired a low shot which the keeper gathered but a needlessly conceded free kick a minute later handed the visitors the lead on 18 minutes.
Jonathan Williams slung over the free kick from the right and it was met by Dean Freeman who headed the ball back across goal and into the net near the far post.
Former Moatman Alex Steadman should have doubled the visitors' advantage but dragged his shot wide of the far post having been put through by another former Moatman Eric Graves before Chitiza put his shot into the side netting.
Gresley got their deserved equaliser with three minutes of the first half remaining and it came from an excellent piece of football on the edge of the Belper area ending with Chitiza firing into the net from close in.
Within a couple of minutes of the start of the second half Gresley had the chance to take the lead but Chitiza just couldn't get enough power on his shot and the upraised flag of the assistant referee would have ruled it out anyway.
Gresley began to take control of the second half with their wide men Leandro Browne and Morris giving the two full backs a torrid time.
Yet another former Moatmen in the Nailers side, Jon Guy, was needed to make a good tackle to prevent Browne from racing clear into the area.
The pressure was mounting with wave after wave of attacking football from the home side with a tremendous shot from Lucas Harrison taking a deflection as it flew goalwards. This was followed minutes later with Browne having his shot cleared off the line by Freeman.
Browne was unlucky to see his shot fly wide and Melbourne, on the turn, have his shot superbly pushed over the bar by Low.
A rare attempt on goal by the Nailers came on 68 minutes when Guy's lofted cross was headed well wide by Williams.
Gresley continued to press forward looking for the breakthrough and forced a corner taken by Browne. Substitute Ryan Walker was unfortunate not to have got that elusive goal but his header came back off the base of the far post with Low beaten.
With Belper hanging on they were saved once more by Low who got a hand to Chitiza's shot pushing it away for yet another corner.
The visitors could not clear their lines as Gresley's pressure was forcing them back with increasing intensity and they were not helped when Freeman saw yellow for the second time followed by a red card with four minutes remaining.
Low, who had kept his side in the game on several occasions, once more produced the goods tipping Browne's excellent free kick over the bar.
The final chance fell to the Gresley captain Jamie Barrett but his header from Browne's corner flew over the bar.
If Gresley had won this game by two or three clear goals no-one could have argued such was the dominance of the home side especially in the second half. Belper have much to be thankful to their keeper for but they will travel home knowing they were extremely lucky to have had a share of the spoils but at least their unbeaten run continues - just!
