Derbyshire Senior Cup 3rd Round
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Tuesday, 6th December 2016, 7.45pm
Gresley Progress In The County Cup
Gresley progressed to the next round of the Derbyshire Senior Cup with what ended up as an emphatic win but full credit to Swanwick, they were made to work hard for it.
This tie was drawn to have been played at the home of Swanwick Pentrich Road but because they do not have floodlights the game had to be switched to the Moat Ground.
The visitors started well and had two decent chances in the first 15 minutes with Guy Wilding forcing a good save from Gresley keeper Matt Coton and then, after being put through, fired over the bar.
Gresley took the lead on 16 minutes. Courtney Meade raced down the left cut in near the bye line and fired a shot past visiting keeper Jason Barratt and into the bottom far corner of the net.
The Moatmen almost doubled their advantage 2 minutes later this time it was Reece Morris who made the chance by running down the right before finding Tendai Chitiza but the final shot flew wide of the far post.
Three minutes later they did score and Morris was involved again. His superb ball picked out Meade who strode forward before looping a shot over the head of the onrushing Barratt and into the net.
Gresley were beginning to dominate the match and a long pass to Morris down the left who run almost to the bye line before smashing a shot which was blocked by Barratt at the near post.
However, on the stroke of halftime Gresley were three up when a ball into the box was rammed home by Keenan King.
Early in the second half the home side went close again when Ben Harris, on for the injured Toby Fura late in the first half, side footed a shot which grazed the outer edge of the far post. King then had a well struck shot saved by Barratt.
Arguably the goal of the game came from the visitors. A poor cross field past was collected by Ian Milsom over on the right and after a couple of strides forward unleashed a tremendous shot from 25 yards out which was destined to find the top far corner of the net the minute the ball left his foot giving Coton no chance.
Would Swanwick be encouraged by the goal? It didn't look like it because Gresley had two good chances just a couple of minutes later. Chitiza's cross from the right was hit into the side netting by King and this was followed by Harris poking an effort wide of the far post.
Pearson Mwanyongo was introduced to replace Meade and was soon causing a tiring Swanwick side problems with his speed and soon found King in the box who managed to force the ball past Barratt.
Chitiza went close to adding goal number five but a fine save from Barratt denied him. There was no respite for the rapidly fading visitors with Mwanyongo again causing problems with his pace and yet another dash down the right ended with a well struck shot which was blocked but King was on hand to fire the rebound past Barratt.
With the game coming to a close Morris's hard work down the left ended with him firing his shot over the bar, but, he was involved again a couple of minutes later when Gresley added their sixth and final goal. Another dash down the left flank by Morris was ended with him finding substitute Leandro Browne who drilled the ball home.
