Derbyshire Senior Cup Quarter-Final
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Tuesday, 24th January 2017, 8.00pm
Gresley Ease into the Senior Cup Semi's
Gresley made their way into the semi-final of the Derbyshire Senior with a gritty win over Evo-Stik Northern Premier League North Division outfit Glossop North End.
Manager Damion Beckford-Quailey made six changes from Saturday's winning side with Ryan Walker returning after illness and starts handed to Tom Manship, Dexter Morris-Clarke, Ryan King and Laithal Hammond. There was also a start for goalkeeper Max Atkin replacing Rob Peet who is suffering from a back injury.
Gresley should have had the chance to take the lead as early as the 3rd minute when Hammond was clearly pushed to the ground while bursting into the area but the officials ignored the appeals.
However, the home side didn't have to wait too long for their first goal. On 13 minutes Hammond made good ground down the right before unleashing a vicious shot that visiting keeper Matthew Cooper could only parry at his near post but Keenan King was on hand to smash the rebound home.
Glossop's first chance of note to cheer their travelling faithful came a minute later but Mike Norton's shot flew wide of the far post.
Some good play between Ryan King and Leandro Browne almost led to Gresley doubling their lead. Ryan King slipped the ball through to Browne who raced forward but fired his shot into the side netting.
Glossop leveled in somewhat fortunate circumstances when both Atkin and Matt Roome went for the same lofted ball into their area with the ball coming off Roome and bouncing into the unguarded net.
The visitors had another half chance when they were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area but again they were fortunate as the player seemed to trip himself up!
Gresley regained the lead on 42 minutes when Keenan King was bundled to the ground in the Glossop area. Keenan King took the kick himself sending the keeper the wrong way for his second goal of the game.
Things got even better for the Moatmen as they stretched their lead almost on the halftime whistle. Ryan King did really well chasing what looked like a lost cause as the ball raced to the bye-line and his persistence saw him get to the ball and then cut it back for Hammond who made sure of scoring his first goal for the club.
Gresley had to make an early change in the second half when Ryan King, who was feeling unwell, had to be replaced by Ben Harris after just a couple of minutes of the re-start.
The home side started well forcing three early corner which came to nothing but it was the visitors who had the first chance of the half but Jamie Rainford could only fire well wide when well-placed. They followed this with another wayward effort this time it was James Hurtley firing wide.
Gresley had the ball in the net again on 62 minutes when Walker put substitute Lucas Harrison's free kick into the net at the far post but the celebrations were cut short by the upraised flag of the assistant referee as he flagged the defender offside.
Despite a period of pressure from the visitors they were finding Gresley's defence in an unforgiving mood working hard to keep the threats at bay.
Gresley still looked dangerous going forward with Reece Morris causing the problems for the visiting defenders. They had two more good chances but a stinging low shot from Harris was well blocked by Cooper and the follow up was also blocked.
Morris-Clarke then fired narrowly wide of the near post before at the other end Atkin was called to make a good save at his near post. The ball then looped over to Ben Richardson who's scissor kick skimmed the bar.
Glossop had one more chance at the end of the game with Rainford shooting wide but it was Gresley who go through to the semi-final where they will meet Evo-Stik NPL Premier side Buxton at the Moat Ground on Tuesday 7th February.
