Pre-Season Friendly
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Wednesday, 1st August 2018, 3.00pm
Moatmen Win Last Home Friendly
Gresley, still without several players, ran out comfortable winners over a young Burton Albion side. Manager Gary Norton continued to give some of the younger players a chance and they did not disappoint as they pressed the Brewers back for much of the first half.
Cameron Steele almost opened the scoring on 9 minutes with a shot from the right which hit the near post.
Eric Graves went close putting his shot wide at the far post before minutes later having his shot blocked. Alex Steadman was unlucky seeing his on-target header blocked.
On 34 minutes a corner from the right by Lucas Harrison was met by Albert Lansdowne who put his header just wide of the far post. However, three minutes later Lansdowne was on target powering a header from Harrison’s free kick past Albion keeper Oliver Fairbrother.
The nearest Albion got came on 42 minutes but a free kick from 20 yards by Ethan Vale flew over the bar.
Callum Riddell had two chances before the break to extend Gresley’s advantage. A good move saw Graves pick out Steadman on the left who then made a good run towards the bye line before laying the ball back for Riddell whose side volley cleared the bar by just a fraction.
Both sides made changes at the break and it was Gresley who continued where they’d left off pressing Albion back.
On the hour Gresley doubled their lead. Substitute Kane Lee made a run into the Albion area but his two efforts on goal were blocked. The ball came to Riddell on the left and he lobbed the ball into the visitors’ goal despite the best endeavour of a defender who made sure by hammering the ball into the roof of the net.
A good set piece almost gave the visitors a goal. A free kick from the left by substitute Jack Bromfield found Regan Ganley over on the right of Gresley’s area and the No5 was unlucky to see his header come back off the far post.
New signing Luke Morgan went close when after a superb run into the area, hit a well struck shot bringing a fine save from Fairbrother turning the effort away for a corner.
As the game began to draw to an end young Gresley substitute Mitchell White tested Fairbrother by hitting a well struck shot straight at him.
Gresley complete their pre-season programme with a visit to former league rivals Kidsgrove Athletic on Saturday.
