Evo-Stik NPL League Division One South
The Novus Stadium, Kidsgrove
Wednesday, 6th September 2017, 7.45pm
Gresley Battle For A Point
Gresley ground out a well-earned point against Kidsgrove Athletic but manager Damion Beckford-Quailey thought his side deserved more on a ground which usually does not do any favours for the visitors.
Beckford-Quailey was given some news before the game which disappointed him. Young goalkeeper Brendan Bunn let the manager know that he was joining Bromsgrove Sport permanently after being allowed to play for them in one game on Saturday as their regular number one was injured.
However, Rob Peet who had helped Shepshed Dynamo yesterday agreed to come back into the team and had one of his better games.
In an end to end game the home side applied the early pressure forcing some corners but Gresley defended well.
On 16 minutes Gresley went close to taking the lead after Reece Morris made a good run down the right before firing a low ball into the area which Matt Melbourne almost got on the end of sliding in at the near post.
Jon Stevenson and Louis Danquah both out shots over the bar for the visitors while at the other end Dan Cocks hit an on target low shot which was deflected for a corner.
Gresley forced two corners followed soon after by a decent penalty shout turned down by referee Greg Rollason as Morris was upended in the area.
Jason Law was put through by Stevenson but the home keeper Dave Parton made a good block to keep his side in the game.
Peet was called on to make another good save when a shot from a corner threatened to give Kidsgrove the lead just before the break.
Gresley made a change for the start of the second half with Ryan King replacing Tom Manship who was suffering from a slight calf injury.
On the hour Gresley took the lead. Not for the first time in the match Morris had been fouled this time a couple of yards from the 18 yard box. Law took the kick which took a slight deflection off the wall wrong footing Parton.
A mistake in midfield led to Kidsgrove levelling on 72 minutes. After losing the ball a good run ended with Josh Egginton apparently bringing down Cocks although it looked a soft decision no different to the one turned down for the visitors in the first half. The spot kick was taken by Anthony Malbon who sent Peet the wrong way.
The goal seemed to fire up the home side and they were soon in front. A good exchange of passes between Cocks and Rhys Thompson ended with Cocks slipping the ball through to substitute Tom France who was allowed to race down the right unchallenged before unleashing a low shot across Peet which struck the far post and bounced back and into the net.
In the last few games that was the signal for Gresley to let their heads drop but not tonight. They began to put the home defence under pressure who were desperately trying to clear the ball with Thompson especially being kept busy.
Gresley were almost caught when substitute Aaron Johns found himself in a good position but his low shot was well saved by Peet. He followed that up with another good save a couple of minutes later this time denying Cocks.
Melbourne put a header straight at Parton as Gresley went looking for something out of the game. A Gresley free kick on the right by Law was somehow cleared off the line.
With time almost up Gresley got the goal their play deserved. A corner from the right was headed home by Danquah.
There was almost a sting in the tail for the visitors as Malbon made his way down the right and fired a low shot which must have blistered the paint on the outside of the far post.
