Evo-Stik NPL League Division One South
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 9th September 2017, 3.00pm
Gresley's Woe Continues
Gresley's poor start to the season continued with another defeat at the Moat Ground. A perplexed manager could not understand how his side's performance could be so different from the one witnessed in midweek at Kidsgrove. He called his side 'Jekyll & Hyde' and no-one could argue with that summing up.
Gresley only seemed to awaken from their slumbers in the final 20 minutes or so but by then then they were three goals behind.
Damion Beckford-Quailey made changes bringing in three from the reserve side, Zac Hill, Harry Hughes and Ryan King as he was missing several players. Dexter Morris-Clarke (injured), Alvin Jarvis (injured), Sean Phillips (injured), Tom Manship (injured) and Lucas Harrison (holiday).
The game was played in periods of sunshine and heavy showers making the surface a tricky one for both sides.
Leek were soon showing their intent with Tim Grice flashing a shot across the face of Rob Peet's goal followed by another chance this time when Jordan Johnson ran into the area but his fiercely struck shot was tipped over by Peet.
Gresley hardly got out of their own half and if anyone was going to score it would be the visitors and the goal came on 37 minutes. Johnson raced into the area on the right and his a shot which Peet could only parry into the feet of Tm Grice who accepted the gift by ramming the ball back into Gresley's goal.
A rare chance for Gresley ended the half with Matt Melbourne heading Jason Law's corner from the left wide.
Gresley began the second half well pressing Leek back into the own half but a quick break almost caught the home side out but the final shot from Johnson was straight at Peet.
Law had a low shot blocked but what is becoming a regular occurrence for Gresley they handed the opposition another goal. Courtney Meade on for Jon Stevenson got caught in possession on the half way line and the ball was slipped forward for Johnson who, with Gresley defenders all pressing forward, ran unchallenged for almost 50 yards before slipping the ball past the exposed Peet.
Gresley had a golden chance to pull a goal back but Meade could only fire his shot into the side netting with only the visiting keeper to beat.
Leek were threatening to add to their total with substitute Niall Maguire heading Rob Stevenson's corner from the right narrowly over the bar.
The visitor's third goal was also a very disappointing one to concede. Stevenson was allowed to race down the right with no challenges of any note coming in and he finished his run very well by cutting in and firing past Peet.
With minutes remaining Gresley caused some panic in the Leek area when Reece Morris looped a high ball into the area which Leek keeper Ben Chapman fumbled but somehow the ball was cleared before a Gresley player could capitalise.
On what had been a grey day for Gresley there was a glimmer of light when a cross from the left by Josh Egginton was headed home by Melbourne at the far post but it was too little too late.
Gresley did have a further couple of chances to snatch an unlikely share of the points with Louis Danquah having a decent header clawed out of the top corner by Chapman and Morris firing a low shot wide of the near post.
