Match Report  |  Gresley FC vs Bedworth United

Gresley were dealt a big blow on the day before the match when Barwell recalled their young keeper Max Smith-Varnham as their keeper was injured. Unfortunately, it only gave Gresley manager Damion Beckford-Quailey 15-20 minutes to try and bring in a replacement before the 12 noon deadline. James Flinders agreed to step into the breech although not playing for Gresley since pre-season.

Unfortunately for Flinders it was a mix-up between himself and a defender over a high cross into the box which saw him fail to claim the ball leaving Elliot Parrot to tap it into the unguarded net.

The rest of the first half was, to be honest, a pretty dour affair with neither side carving out any clear-cut chances.

The second half was not a great deal better but Gresley did have the better of the half but just couldn't break through a stubborn United defence ably marshalled by the experienced Mark Albrighton.

Flinders had chance to make amends for his first half slip when Acer Wake gave away a penalty on 49 minutes. Levi Rowley elected to take the spot kick but Flinders diving to his right made a superb save to deny the visitors from doubling their advantage.

The home keeper was called into action two minutes later pushing Luke Keen's header from a right cross away for a corner.

The closest Gresley came was Matt Melbourne heading Jeremiah Dasaolu's right wing cross over the bar followed by Jason Law's well struck shot being blocked. Jamie McAteer then planted a header for the visitors over the bar on the hour mark.

On 64 minutes Gresley had a decent shout for a penalty themselves when Reece Morris was brought down just inside the area. Everyone was hoping the referee Mr Humpries would redress the decision he had made earlier giving Bedworth a 'soft' penalty but no not this time much to the annoyance of players and supporters alike.

Jon Stevenson who had replaced Tom Hammerton fired a shot straight at visiting keeper Dan Crane. He followed that up a few minutes later with another shot at Crane as Gresley pressed forward looking for the equaliser.

A bit of a skirmish between Tom Manship and Luke Rowe saw both players receive a yellow card. However, a lunge from Manship a few minutes later saw the midfielder receive another yellow resulting in a red card and Gresley down to ten men for the final moments of the game.

With the man advantage Gresley were under pressure for the final 10 minutes or so and Bedworth almost made that pressure count when Khaellen Bailey-Nichols cut in from the left only to see his shot come back off the bar.