Match Report  |  Gresley FC vs Alvechurch

This was an improved performance compare to Saturday's dismal trip to Cleethorpes and it earned the Moatmen their first point of the new season.

Manager Damion Beckford- Quailey returned after missing the Cleethorpes game due to a family wedding and he made just one change to the starting eleven to the one who were on the wrong end of a beating giving goalkeeper Brendan Bunn his debut with Rob Peet given a place on the bench.

Gresley got off to good start taking the lead after just 4 minutes through Matt Melbourne. Another debutant Louis Danquah put Melbourne through and he finished superbly giving visiting keeper Jasmin Keranovic no chance.

Church had their first chance of night but it was squandered as Daniel Dubidat fired high over the bar when well placed.

The visitors were building up a head of steam and were pressing and that pressure paid off on 19 minutes when a good run down the left was finished off with a cross which was headed home from close in by David Bellis.

Gresley had a good shout for a penalty when the keeper got a handful of a home shirt but it was missed by the referee who then bizarrely gave a free kick to the visitors. Unfortunately, the official missed another chance for Gresley when Keranovic picked up what appeared to be a back pass with the referee declaring it was from a tackle!

Danquah had a shot well saved by Keranovic but minutes later Melbourne, who had been causing problems for the visitors, limped off with a suspected hamstring problem being replaced by Courtney Meade.

Church continued to press but were profligate with their chances with Joshua March first firing well over the bar and following it up with a shot from distance straight at Bunn. Another chance was squandered when Dubidat met a cross from the left but fired well over the bar from a very good position.

Gresley could have regained the lead just before the break. A ball over the top caused the Church back line to stop expecting an offside decision but Jon Stevenson, who had also stopped and looking a yard offside, continued and lobbed the ball over the tall Keranovic and was unlucky to see his effort come back off the bar.

Within a minute of the second half starting the visitors themselves were denied by the woodwork. A Thomas Turton corner from the right was met by Luke Yates but his powerful header hit the bar. They went close again minutes later when Yates was sent through in on goal but a good block from Bunn kept the scores level.

More pressure from the visitors looked as if a goal was coming but a free header by Yates was collected easily by Bunn.

Gresley were soaking up some pressure at the back with the pressure helped by some harshly awarded free kicks from the referee but still Church were wasting chances with the houses behind the top goal more in danger than Gresley's goal.

Arguably the save of the game came from Keranovic. A cross from the right found Meade in the area and he volleyed a powerful strike which the keeper did extremely well to push away with a reaction save.

Church could be a little disappointed not to be travelling home without all three points but from Gresley's point of view a point is something to build on as they take a break from League action to play Brocton in the FA Cup on Saturday.