Evo-Stik South
The Coach and Horses Stadium, Dronfield
Saturday, 2nd December 2017, 3.00pm
Precious Points For Gresley
For the travelling Gresley faithful their team gave them something to warm them with one of the better performances of the season. A second successive win on the road gave the Moatmen a precious three points over one of their relegation rivals and a clean sheet as a bonus.
The win was thoroughly deserved as every play from defence through to attack worked hard, not only for a 45 minute period, which has been witnessed this season, but for the whole 90 and their endeavours were rewarded.
Gresley manager Damion Beckford-Qualiey was forced into changes with Jamie Barrett (holiday), Louis Danquah (suspended for collecting five yellow cards), Lucas Harrison (ill), Tom Manship (injured) and Keenan King (knee) all missing. He also had Reece Morris, Dexter Morris-Clarke and Jason Law all carrying slight injuries.
However, Alvin Jarvis made a welcome return in defence and there was a debut for recent loan signing Oliver Bassett.
On a decent surface the first shot in anger came from the home side with Ben Turner firing straight at Gresley keeper Callum Hawkins. The play swung to the other end Bassett also shot at keeper Louis Jones.
Most of the pressure was starting to come from the visitors with Danny Quinn going close putting a well struck effort just past the post. A minute late Jason Law curled a shot past the far post followed soon afterwards with Matt Melbourne cutting in from the left and forcing a save from Jones at the near post.
Quinn went close again with a shot which Jones saved but the pressure from Gresley brought dividends on 18 minutes. A well take free kick by Sean Phillips was headed past Jones to give the visitors the lead. Two minutes later a cross from Dexter Morris-Clarke was volleyed over with a spectacular bicycle kick by Quinn.
It was now the turn of the home side to apply some pressure with Ben Algar at the centre of it. The impressive number 7 fired two shots in the final 10 minutes of the first half which were comfortably dealt with by Hawkins.
The Gresley fans were wondering which Gresley side would appear for the second half and they were pleasantly surprised as their side carried on where they’d left off in the first.
An early corner by Phillips which Melbourne caught beautifully but hitting his volley straight at Jones.
Algar was still proving a threat but some solid defending by the Gresley back line ably assisted by the hard-working Morris-Clarke snuffed out the danger.
Gresley got the second goal their play had deserved on the hour mark. Bassett worked the ball out in midfield to Morris who then threaded a perfect ball down the right for Quinn to run onto and after taking a touch superbly struck a low shot past Jones at his near post.
The only real save Hawkins had to make all game came on 68 minutes when Sheffield substitute Luke Francis heading a cross from the left forcing the Gresley stopper to dive full length to deny Sheffield from reducing the deficit.
Bassett then forced a save from Jones and with Sheffield desperate to get back into the game they were pressing Gresley back for the final 10 minutes. Perhaps Grant Ryan should have done better with a volley, but his effort went straight at Hawkins.
Gresley played out the final minutes of the game comfortably which was frustrating the home side who picked up a few rash yellow cards as they saw the three points slip away.
