Match Report  |  Lincoln United vs Gresley FC

Gresley's first half showing would have been better suited for Monday night's Halloween celebrations as they put on a horror show especially a six-minute spell midway through when they conceded three goals to give themselves a huge mountain to climb and their recent poor run of form continue.

Things improved slightly with the introduction of Courtney Meade and Pearson Myanyongo in the second half but the damage had been done well before Jordan Hempenstall ended the game with his third goal and United's fourth.

Gresley manager Damion Beckford-Quailey had hinted that some of his squad would be dropped after last week's showing against Shaw Lane but it was still a surprise for the travelling Gresley faithful to see that top scorers Meade and Mwanyongo were on the bench.

The first fifteen minutes were fairly even with Leandro Browne firing a free kick just over for the hosts and keeper Rob Peet making a block at his near post as United threatened.

Then for the next six minutes Gresley conceded three goals. The first on 24 minutes was the pick of the bunch with Hempenstall lobbing Peet from the right.

The second goal arrived two minutes later and it was a poor one to concede. A corner from the left by Danny Brooks found a team mate at the back post who duly nodded the ball back to the other post and Hempenstall had the easy task of heading the ball home.

Then things went from bad to worse as a ball was not cleared in the area and a shot hit the unfortunate Jamie Barrett and the deflection looped perfectly for Matt Cotton to head home from close in.

Four minutes later United almost added a fourth. A good ball to Gary King on the left was superbly volleyed and was unlucky to see his effort hit the bar.

Gresley's only shot on target in the first half came when Browne's strike was blocked by home keeper Philip McGann at his near post.

Mwanyongo, Meade and Dexter Morris-Clarke came on for Barrett, Lucas Harrison and Toby Fura early in the second half and their arrival seemed to give the visitors the spark they'd been missing in the first half.

On 60 minutes one of the substitutes made an impact. Browne's free kick found Mwanyongo and after getting the better of a couple of markers curled a superb shot into the far top corner.

If Gresley thought they were back in the game they were to be sadly disappointed ten minutes later. A corner from the left by United substitute Andy Toyne was dropped at the far post by Peet and there followed a scramble in front of goal which ended with Hempenstall completing his hat-trick.

With just 9 minutes of normal time remaining Gresley added to their tally. Keeper McGann made a hash of his clearance and the ball seemed certain to be going out for a corner on the left but the spin kept it in and Tendai Chitiza grabbed the chance and collected the ball and just when he looked to be readying himself to shoot he picked out Meade in the middle of the area with a pass who then hit his low shot which a defender seemed to block with his arms diving across the line.

However, the defender was spared a certain red card as the ball squirmed its way in the net and referee Richie Watkins awarded the goal.

The game ended on a somewhat sour note with three minutes remaining when a moment of petulance from Reece Morris (who had been on the end of many dubious tackles throughout the game) saw the diminutive winger shown a straight red card after his attempt to stamp on an opponent's foot was seen by both the referee and his assistant.