Derbyshire Senior Cup 3rd Round
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Tuesday, 5th December 2017, 7.45pm
A Bridge Too Far For Gresley
As was expected Gresley manager Damion Beckford-Quailey made several changes for this 3rd round Derbyshire Senior Cup game with an important game against Carlton Town on Saturday.
Reserve team players Zack Hill, Kane Lee and Harry Hughes were brought into the squad with Jon Stevenson given the start after recovering from a recent injury.
The first half was punctuated by the visitors making what could be described as agricultural tackles with Gresley players, thankfully, escaping any serious injuries as Whaley Bridge looked as if they wanted to make an impression early on, literally!
However, there was one moment of continuous football and it almost led to Bridge taking the lead. Sam Leadbetter was put through down the left but Gresley keeper Callum Hawkins made a good block to deny him.
For the rest of the half it was stop, go with the referee’s whistle having the most exercise.
Gresley went close to opening the scoring on 52 minutes. A corner from the right by Oliver Bassett was played out to Harry Hughes who sent a high looping ball into the opposition’s box which caused visiting keeper James Tattesall, scurrying backwards, to tip the ball over the bar.
On 62 minutes Matt Melbourne was introduced in an effort to put pressure on Bridge’s back line and almost from his first touch he did just that sending a cross from the right into the box but Danny Quinn’s flicked header flew just past the far post.
Seconds later Gresley took the lead. A good footballing move down the left was fired towards goal and after several attempts to get the ball across the line which were blocked Quinn succeeded in the end.
Gresley applied more pressure with Melbourne having a shot blocked and Bassett firing a fierce shot over the bar.
With a minute remaining of the game Bridge has a golden chance to level but Adam Barlow could only sky his shot from a good position.
A couple of minutes into time added on Gresley gave away a needless free kick just out side the penalty area on the right. Bridge brought all their players including the keeper into the six-yard box. Dan Gilbride swung the ball over and in the confusion the ball ended up in the net with the visitors crediting the final touch to Jason Broome.
The referee’s whistle soon afterwards meant the lottery that is penalties.
Whaley Bridge took the first spot kick with Bill Sutton scoring. Bassett levelled for Gresley. Gilbride put the visitors back in the lead. Reece Morris’s poor penalty was saved giving the visitors the advantage.
Jack Gregory and James Gemmell were both successful for Bridge as were Sean Phillips and Matt Melbourne for Gresley. Bridge only need to score their next penalty to go through but skipper Robert Newton’s kick went well over the bar to give Gresley a glimmer of hope.
Up stepped Quinn but his kick was also poor and was easily blocked by Tattersall and it was the visitors who booked their place into the next round. Unfortunately, they were denied a relatively near to home game as Ilkeston beat Glossop also on penalties.
