Evo-Stik South
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Monday, 16th April 2018, 7.45pm
Gresley Well Worth A Point
Those who missed, for whatever reason, tonight’s game missed one of the most entertaining seen at the Moat Ground for some time.
Gresley manager Damion Beckford-Quailey brought in 6 reserve team players as he rested most of his squad with the games coming in rapid succession. Harry Hughes, Ryan Clemson, Conner Ward, Kane Lee, Josh Garland and Zack Hill were all given a start.
Cleethorpes made the midweek long journey to the Moat and were quick off mark pushing forward but Gresley defended well snuffing out the threats well.
The first chance for either side came on 35 minutes with Brody Robertson firing straight at Gresley keeper Callum Hawkins. Three minutes later they fashioned another good chance. This time it was Daniel North who tested Hawkins having turned well in the area before shooting but Hawkins was up to the task making a fine save.
Gresley took the lead on the stroke of half time. A good move down the left saw Lee steer the ball out to Oliver Bassett who then cut in to the area before curling a superb shot into the far top corner.
Town forced two quick corners early in the second half with one of them being headed just wide of the far post by Oliver Donald but the visitors were level a couple of minutes later.
Another corner from the left by Jonathan Oglesby seemed to have been claimed by Hawkins but the ball appeared to have been knocked out of his grasp with the loose ball smashed into the net from close in by Matthew Bloomer.
On 56 minutes there was a worrying sight as Bassett limped off after succumbing to an injury sustained earlier to be replaced by Sean Phillips.
Hawkins was needed just after the hour dealing with a low strike from Robertson, but he couldn’t prevent the striker from giving his side the lead when he managed to poke home Oglesby’s cross from the left.
Hawkins was having another great game for the Moatmen and on 71 minutes Robertson got the better of Clemson leaving him one-on-one with the young keeper who came out and made a superb block. Minutes later Hawkins made an even better save this time, diving to his left, pushing the goal bound shot away for a corner.
Town went close to adding to their tally in a somewhat bizarre way. A shot was fired into the area and the ball took a wicked deflection and crashed off the bar.
With time running out it looked as if Gresley’s determined display would not be rewarded but Cortney Meade, who had replaced Garland, made the most of a slip by a visiting defender and took up the loose ball, strode forward and slipped the ball past keeper David Birch,
It was no more than Gresley deserved after another good all-round team performance and the supporters showed their appreciation at the end applauding the players as the game ended.
