Match Report  |  Rocester vs Gresley FC

Before the game a one-minute silence was immaculately observed for the recently deceased family member of Chris Gowan, Matt Roome and Ryan Walker.

Gresley manager Damion Beckford-Quailey was again short of first team players with 10 players unavailable so he was forced to shuffle his side.

On Rocester's side were two surprise faces with former Moat favourite Kieran O'Connell and Albert Lansdowne appearing for the home side.

The visitors started well with Ryan King making a good run down the right and his cross found one of the trialists but the final short flew over the bar.

A long-range effort from another of Gresley's trialists saw Rocester's keeper Adam Binks struggling to get down and push the ball away for a corner.

Gresley were having the better of the game and were unlucky not to have taken the lead on 22 minutes. A free kick by Tom Manship from 22 yards beat Binks but clipped the outside of the near post.

Rocester's first chance of note came just after the half hour mark but the shot from former Moatman Rob Ritchie-Smith was well off target.

Ryan King was making some good runs down the left and from one of them he produced a very good cross into the area but Matt Melbourne put his header over the bar. Minutes later another chance arrived this time from a free kick with Manship seeing his shot fly just wide of the upright.

Rocester took the lead in controversial circumstances. Gresley were pressing forward when one of the Gresley trialists was clearly fouled but play was allowed to continue by the referee and the ball flew down to the other end of the pitch to Ritchie-Smith who struck a powerful shot which was well parried by new signing goalkeeper Brendan Bunn. Eventually the ball came to O'Connell who showed that his skill was still there after a long injury layoff curling a delicious ball into the bottom far corner.

The half time score was a little harsh on the visitors but they leveled the game within 3 minutes of the second half when a clearance from substitute keeper Rob Peet was flicked on to one of the trialists who duly lobbed the keeper with his right foot from 30 yards out.

Rocester and Gresley both made changes but it was the home changes that made the impact. Peet was needed to block an effort at his near post with his legs but he could nothing to prevent Rocester from regaining the lead. A deep cross from the left found substitute Oli Roome at the far post who slotted the ball home.

Josh Dutton had come on for Gresley and with his first touch fired a shot straight at Binks but the home side extended their lead a few minutes later when Oli Roome claimed his second goal of the game by firing a shot across Peet and into the far corner.

Gresley clawed a goal back just 60 seconds later when Jamie Barrett smashed home Manship's corner from close in.

It was Rocester's turn to dominate the game and it was a good save from Peet that denied substitute Callum Riddell from getting on the scoresheet.

Peet was needed again pushing a well struck shot away as Rocester threatened once more. However, a good move for Gresley almost ended in a goal. A cross came to Dutton in the area and he managed to flick the ball on but Binks got to it under his bar tipping it over for a corner.

Gresley can consider themselves a little unfortunate not to have been handed at least one penalty in the closing minutes when Melbourne and Dutton were brought down in the area and a clear hand ball by a Rocester player with the referee the only person in the ground not to have seen it.

They did have the ball in the net when Barrett headed home a corner but again the referee claimed the defender had fouled in his attempt but again he was the only one to have seen the offence.

The visitors went close with the game almost up when Lucas Harrison's pass to Dutton was flicked on only for Binks to fumble the ball but fortunately he saw it roll the outside of the post. And so it was Rocester who got their hands on the Don Hill Memorial Trophy after an entertaining and competitive game.