FA Cup 2nd Round Qualifying
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 17th September 2016, 3.00pm
It's All Still To Play For
Before the game there was an impeccably observed one minute's silence in memory of the young Shaw Lane player Dan Wilkinson who collapsed and died during their midweek game at Brighouse.
Gresley manager Damion Beckford-Quailey made changes to his back line for the visit of Stamford. Matt Roome and Ryan Walker replaced Jamie Barrett and Josh Egginton and Jordan Wakeling returned after serving his one match ban with Jake Carlisle taking a seat on the bench.
A late, late goal from Pearson Mwanyongo got Gresley out of gaol and his side's name in the hat on Monday for the next round of the FA Cup.
Almost from the off Stamford took control and were soon testing home keeper Rob Peet with a shot from distance by Jake Duffey. They went close again minutes but Jevani Brown's shot was tipped over the bar by Peet.
Gresley were struggling to get any sort of foothold in the game being pressed back into their own half but they did have one chance with a low shot from Walker straight at Stamford keeper Paul Bastock.
The Daniels took the lead on 17 minutes. Brown made a run down the left and managed to get to the bye line before sending a low cross across the box to the far post where Elliott Sandy was on hand to head the ball home from close in.
The home side were still finding it difficult against some resolute and at times physical defending with Reece Morris more than once the target.
Stamford's tactic of sending long high balls into Gresley's area was causing problems but when Gresley tried to reciprocate the danger was easily dealt with by the Stamford defence.
Duffy once more fired straight at Peet from a free kick, Brown blazed over when well placed just inside the area and the visitors finished the first half strongly with John King making a good run down the left moving the ball to Duffy who squandered a good chance firing wide.
Beckfod- Quailey said after the match that he'd 'had words' with his side at the interval and they came out looking like a different side for the second half. Making one change with Ben Harris replacing Eddy Samba Gresley looked far more positive and threatening going forward with Lucas Harrison's good run down the left ending with a well struck shot across the face of goal. Courtney Meade then hit a thunderous shot which keeper Bastock did well to tip over the bar.
Meade was looking more of a threat this half and broke forward towards the edge of the Stamford area only to be tripped by Delroy Gordon who received a yellow card from the referee.
Despite Gresley having the upper hand they were finding Stamford's defending solid and at times overly so with Morris still receiving more than his fair share of it.
Still, a mark of this season's Gresley side is that do not give up despite almost going further behind on 83 minutes but substitute Ryan Robbins could only scuff a shot wide of the far post which surely should have been put away.
Morris made a good run down the left before cutting in and racing across the 18-yard line but his final shot was a weak one straight at the keeper.
Meade was unlucky not to have leveled things on 90 minutes but the unfortunate forward could only watch as his shot from the right came back off the bar.
Gresley are making it a habit of scoring late goals and one duly arrived a minute into time added on, and what an important one it was.
Tendai Chitiza dribbled his way into the area but was felled by Jordan Smith giving referee Matthew Smith no option but to award the penalty.
With Gresley supporters' collective breath being held, Pearson Mwanyongo stepped up to take the kick and made certain sending Bastock the wrong way which means both sides have to do it all again on Tuesday night at the Zeeco Stadium, Stamford.
