Pre-Season Friendly
The Dovecote, Shepshed
Tuesday, 11th July 2017, 7.45pm
First Friendly Under the Belt
Gresley made the short trip into Leicestershire to take on near neighbours Shepshed Dynamo for the Moatmen's first pre-season friendly.
With six first team players unavailable manager Damion Beckford-Quailey included a mix of reserve team players and trialists along with the rest of his first team squad.
After the first 10 minutes or so Gresley began to get into their stride but it was the home side who had the first of the chances with a free kick flying past the near post followed by a shot from distance.
Gresley's Jon Stevenson put a shot wide of the near post and Matt Melbourne brought out a good save from the home keeper. The resultant corner from the left saw Stevenson heading wide of the far post.
On 40 minutes Gresley took the lead. Marley Hamilton put a high ball over for Melbourne who in turn looped a header over the onrushing keeper and into the net.
There were changes for both sides after the break with Gresley almost fielding a new side. One of the trialists soon tested the keeper but at the other end an unfortunate slip by Gresley's keeper James Flinders allowed Shepshed to get back on terms.
The many changes inevitably disjointed the Gresley side and Shepshed put pressure on the Gresley defence but Hamilton forced another good save from the home keeper.
Zak Evans was put through and tried to lob the keeper but his effort was not quite high enough and the keeper managed to grab the ball.
Gresley were still trying to press forward with a trialist shooting low which was well held by the keeper.
Shepshed scored twice in two minutes with the first being slotted home at the far post from a ball from the left followed by another shot from the left which came back off the far post with the rebound being smashed home.
With the ninety minutes up Gresley scored the last goal of the game when the ball came back off a Shepshed player and Hamilton ran forward before putting his shot past the keeper.
After the game Beckford-Quailey reported that he was pleased with his side's performance with many of the trialists showing some good touches and a good work rate with lots of positives coming from this first match.
