Match Report  |  Cleethorpes Town vs Gresley FC

This was certainly not the result Gresley or their travelling fans wanted and the long journey home was a miserable one.

Cleethorpes, however, couldn't have started their Northern Premier League venture any better and thoroughly deserved their three points although they were handed all four goals as the spectre of last season's defensive frailties raised their ugly heads again for the visitors.

The home side started on the front foot and were soon threatening the Gresley goal. A cross from the left picked out Jonathan Oglesby at the far post but he put his shot wide of the far post.

Gresley keeper Rob Peet needed to be alert palming a shot from Liam Dickens over the bar. The resultant corner had also to be tipped over the bar as the Owls pressed.

The home side thought they'd opened the scoring on 18 minutes but the raised flag of the referee's assistant cut short their celebrations and Dickens claiming his club's first goal at this level.

Still the pressure mounted on the Gresley back line and Andrew Taylor went close when he beat Peet to the ball but put his shot into the side netting. Cleethorpes had another chance when the ball was laid back for Marc Cooper who fired his shot high over the bar.

The first half chance for the visitors came with nearly half an hour on the clock with Jon Stevenson firing a volley over the bar.

The Owls took the lead on 34 minutes but there was an element of good fortune about it. A cross from the left flew into the box and the unfortunate Josh Egginton trying to clear the ball under pressure saw it fly off his boot and past Peet.

Gresley were reeling and six minutes later they found themselves further behind and again it was a soft goal to give away. A free kick by Peter Winn found Matt Bloomer who was allowed to head home unchallenged from the centre of the area.

The visitors seemed lacklustre and were finding it hard to try and make any inroads into the Cleethorpes defence. Indeed, Gresley could have been even further behind four minutes into the second half but Cooper's effort clipped the top of Peet's bar. Another chance, a couple of minutes later, was only stopped adding to the score when Matt Roome made a brave block to deny Taylor from close in.

Gresley got back into the game when a high long pass from Sean Phillips was brought down by Jon Stevenson before turning and then curling a superb shot around the home keeper and into the far corner.

It was now Gresley's best spell of the game and they went close to getting level when Matt Melbourne slid the ball through to Stevenson from the right but this time his curled shot went the wrong side of the post. He went close again trying to lob the keeper but Liam Higton held on to the ball under his bar.

Again, more poor defending from the visitors led to goal number three for the Owls when the impressive Taylor took full advantage slipping the ball past Peet.

Cleethorpes were being given acres of space and once more they sliced through the defence but Liam Davis's shot was well over the bar. Then, a cross from the left picked out Jonathan Oglesby unmarked on the far post but his shot hit the side netting.

Peet was called on again to push away yet another chance but he couldn't do anything to deny the Owls adding another goal. Dexter Morris-Clarke who had not been on the pitch for long after replacing Tom Manship was caught in possession deep in the Gresley half and Alex Flett added to Gresley's misery by taking the ball forward before beating Peet.

But for a last-ditch tackle from Jamie Barrett Cleethorpes could have rubbed salt into the Gresley wounds as Davis looked odds on to score.

Gresley must now put this performance well behind them and prepare for another testing game on Tuesday as they take on another of the league newcomers Alvechurch who beat Leek Town in their opener.