Evo-Stik NPL League Division One South
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 21st January 2017, 3.00pm
Morris Late Strike Is Enough For The Moatmen
Before the kick off there was an impeccably observed one minute's silence in memory of club President Mike Knight and supporter Pete Dawkins.
Gresley had to wait until the 90th minute strike from Reece Morris to claim all three points and only their second league double of the season.
Manager Damion Beckford-Quailey made changes to his side with Tendai Chitiza away in Switzerland and Ryan Walker absent through illness but he had a new striker on the bench with Laithan Hammond joining from Holwell Sports.
On a heavy pitch both sides started well with Rob Peet having to make a save at his near post while at the other end Ben Harris was firing a shot from the left just past the far post.
The game was quite even until the 17th minutes when Gresley took the lead. A ball sent down the right which Matt Melbourne controlled well on the tricky surface before racing forward and with visiting keeper Jack Steggles advancing the forward blasted the ball him and into the net from just inside the area.
The remainder of the first half saw hardly any more clear-cut chances form either side with only a low shot from Harris challenging Steggles.
Gresley came out looking for another goal and within the first fifteen minutes of the second half they created four pretty good chances.
Morris dribbled his way into the area on the right and lofted a ball into the middle for Keenan King but the striker headed the chance over the bar.
Lucas Harrison then smashed his trademark low free kick from just outside the area which Steggles did well to hold onto. Morris was provider again this time to Leandro Browne but again the chance went as the attempt flew over the bar. Keenan King then made a good run down the right but his final show was straight at Steggles.
On 63 minutes Hammond was introduced for his debut and his pace made an immediate impact getting around the back of the stubborn Carlton defence and within five minutes he was testing Steggles at his near post.
Carlton had a golden opportunity to get on terms when Josh Rae made space in the area but blazed his shot well over the bar.
Browne was brought down on the edge of the area and chose to take the free kick himself which brought out the save of the game as Steggles managed to superbly tip the goal bound shot over the bar.
Carlton found themselves level with 10 minutes remaining. A free kick on the right was pumped into Gresley's box and eventually from the resulting scramble Lawrence Gorman managed to poke the ball home.
That goal seemed to give Carlton the impetus to go forward and to try for an unlikely three points. Chances came with the ball flashing across the Gresley goalmouth with no-one able to capitalise and long deep balls being pumped into the area at every opportunity but Gresley's defence managed to hold out.
Indeed, they relieved that pressure in the best possible way by taking the lead again almost on the final whistle.
A great run down the right by Morris saw the diminutive forward skip into the area before hitting a low shot which deceived Steggles flying into the bottom corner at the near post stunning the Carlton players and visiting supporters who thought they'd done enough for at least a share of the points.
Carlton did go very close to getting that share of the spoils with a late, late effort which brought out a good save from Peet at his near post.
