Evo-Stik South
Steel Park, Corby
Saturday, 17th March 2018, 3.00pm
Gresley Hard Work Reaps Reward At Steel Park
Gresley manager Damion Beckford-Quailey called this performance a complete team effort, and not many of the hardy souls who had braved the conditions could argue.
Beckford-Quailey mentioned after the Alvechurch game that he would make changes for today’s game, and so he did. Mark Branch made his first start since joining the club a couple of weeks ago, Sean Phillips came in for Pearson Mwanyongo and Reece Morris for Dexter Morris-Clarke. Shawn Richards was absent due to work commitments.
The game started in an Arctic cold, bone numbing biting blustery wind which swirled around the ground giving no respite for the travelling Gresley faithful but what they saw from their side must have warmed them a little.
With the wind to their backs Gresley started well and could have taken the lead on 12 minutes when Tom Manship was given a good chance on the edge of the area but fired his effort over the bar.
Visiting keeper, Callum Hawkins, carried on from where he left off at Alvechurch acrobatically tipping Jordon Crawford’s shot over the bar as the Town man burst through the Gresley backline.
Danny Quinn then had a decent chance but shot over the bar as Gresley threatened once more but minutes later Town responded with Crawford’s corner from the right almost being turned in at the far post. Jake Bettles shot from distance was held under the bar by Gresley keeper Callum Hawkins.
Gresley took the lead on 34 minutes as a result of some good play which ended with Morris slipping the ball through to Quinn who turned well at the near post before smashing the ball past home keeper Sam Wilson.
On 44 minutes Matt Melbourne almost sent his side in at the break with an even bigger advantage but the hard-working frontman was unlucky to see his curling shot come back off an upright with Wilson rooted to the spot.
The first chance for either side in the second half fell to Quinn whose goal bound shot was headed away by a defender.
Corby then went close on 56 minutes with Ashley Robinson’s shot, from the edge of the area, clipping the top of the bar.
The home side were applying pressure with Hawkins having to push away Steven Leslie’s stinging shot. They went close again with Paul Malone heading the ball into the box where Philip Trainer tried to back head the ball but it fell onto the top of the net.
Gresley seemed to have weathered the pressure from the home side and doubled their advantage on 70 minutes as a result of a good move. With the blustery wind now into their faces Gresley kept the ball on the ground with Quin bursting forward. He looked across to his left and saw Oliver Bassett in space. He passed the ball into his team mate’s stride and the youngster made no mistake firing past Wilson. Bassett could have doubled his tally a minute later but with only Wilson to beat he fired over the bar.
The visitors went close again on 81 minutes. Melbourne was put through and he managed to round the advancing Wilson but his final shot was cleared off the line by a defender.
Gresley held on to claim a valuable three points and an added bonus of a clean sheet from a really hard-working performance in challenging conditions and easily one of the coldest football matches so far this season.
