Match Report  |  Witton Albion vs Gresley FC

It's been said before that football can be a cruel game and it certainly can be on this showing.

Gresley made the trip up to Witton Albion on the back of a mini revival of two draws and a win and they should have extended that run by at least another draw.

Except for a calamitous 6-minute spell at the start of the game Gresley went on to dominate the proceeding spoilt only by their finishing which, if improved, would have seen the visitors two or three goals to the good by the end of the match.

Gresley manager Damion Beckford-Quailey had the luxury of being able to name the same starting eleven that went so close to beating Belper.

However, his side looked as if they were still on the coach as they were caught cold going two goals down with just 6 minutes on the clock.

On two minutes a pass in midfield from Lucas Harrison was easily cut out and Witton were soon threatening on the edge of the Gresley area. The ball was sent forward and Gresley keeper and Jordan Wakeling appeared to go for the same ball with neither successful allowing Tomola Omotola to stroke the ball into the empty net.

Gresley almost conceded again a minute later when Peet managed to parry a shot away and made a follow up save from the rebound.

The visitors did fall behind three minutes later and it was another poor goal to concede. The ball was only half cleared out to Bradley Bauress on the right and he struck a shot from distance which flew past Peet and into the bottom corner. Whether it was meant or Peet thought it was going wide either way Gresley were two down before they had chance to take a breath.

Gradually, Gresley began to come back into the game and from then on they were easily the better of the two sides creating chance after chance unfortunately not taken.

A good move down the pitch ended with Lucas Harrison hitting a good low shot which home keeper Daniel Roberts somehow blocked with his legs. Tendai Chitiza then beat the defender down the flank but his cross went agonisingly behind Matt Melbourne charging into the area.

A rare attempt on the Gresley goal came when a corner from the left by Paul Williams came to Bauress but his volley just cleared the bar.

Gresley went close again with three minutes of the first half remaining when a deep free kick by Harrison seemed to be heading out beyond the far post but Jamie Barrett almost caught Roberts napping as the keeper had decided the ball was flying out but Barrett nipped in but his shot hit the outside of the far post.

Another good run down the left produced Gresley's goal. The ball was played across the area and eventually out to Reece Morris who took one touch before firing a low shot into the far bottom corner.

Gresley went close to drawing level within seconds of the second half starting when Chitiza cut in from the right but his shot was saved by Roberts.

Albion had a chance minutes later when a cross from the right by Anthony Gardner was almost met by Jamie Hinchcliffe sliding in but Peet bravely dived forward and held onto the ball.

Gresley were pressing forward looking for another goal and Chitiza tried again but his shot was straight at Roberts.

Chitiza had an even better chance on 56 minutes. A cross from the right by Melbourne found Chitiza but he managed to scoop his shot over the bar as he ran into the box.

Still more chances came and went for the visitors with Barrett heading Leandro Browne's corner over the bar.

On 72 minutes Albion were reduced to ten men when Williams was shown a second yellow card followed immediately by a red.

Gresley sensed their chance to grab something from the game they'd largely dominated and Browne almost supplied the perfect response threading a ball through to Chitiza in the area but the final shot went wide.

Melbourne was next to have a chance but his shot, from the edge of the area, whistled just over the bar.

Gresley went even closer on 90 minutes. Another corner from Browne flew into the area but Josh Egginton blazed his effort also over the bar.

The Gresley manager had brought on Ryan Walker in place of and Barrett, and pushed him up front looking for that elusive goal but with his side pressing Albion back they got caught with a sucker punch in the second minute of added on time.

Totally against the run of play a long clearance down the left was played into the middle to Bauress who curled a shot into the bottom far corner giving the score-line an unjust margin.

Most supporters have suggested that their team had, at some time, been unlucky but in this case the travelling Gresley contingence could say it without contradiction with seen some of the home officials saying that the better side had lost today.

That may be of little consolation but the work rate and determination from the Gresley side was clear to see by those hardy souls who had made the trip and their appreciation of what they'd witnessed from their side was most welcome by the players and management.