Pre-Season Friendly
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 21st July 2018, 3.00pm
Gresley Back To Winning Ways
Gresley got back to winning ways with a win against Hinckley AFC at the Moat Ground on a sweltering, energy drainging afternoon.
As to be expected there were a few changes to the home starting eleven as Gresley continue to try out players and formations.
Hinckley, now managed by former Moat favourite James Jepson, ply their trade in the Midland League Division One and they found themselves a goal up on 10 minutes. After some slack defending Sam Belcher managed to stab the ball home from close in.
Their lead lasted for just seven minutes when Lucas Harrison’s free kick from the right was headed back into the box by Martin Smyth at the far post for Kieran O’Connell to nod home.
Gresley doubled their advantage on 22 minutes. After a lung-busting run through middle Dexter Morris-Clarke rounded the advancing Hnckley keeper Jacob Wood and slipped the ball into the empty net despite a defender rapidly closing him down.
Home first half keeper, ben Allsop, needed to be alert as Hinckley threatened to draw level having to make a fine save tipping a shot from the right over the bar.
The first half ended with Eric Graves going close for the Moatmen. Another good run saw the midfielder one-on-one with Wood, but the keeper stood up well and managed to keep hold of Grave’s shot which was heading for the bottom far corner.
Both sides made changes for the start of the second half and Gresley increased their advantage with just two minutes gone when Graves’ low shot beat Wood and flew into the bottom far corner.
Graves went close just a few minutes later when another low shot from the far post was deflected for a corner.
However, Gresley didn’t have to wait long to grab another goal. On 56 minutes Ryan King, who was causing problems for the Hinckley back line, struck a superb low shot which beat the visiting keeper at his near post.
Hinckley managed to score again from a set piece. A corner from left saw Tom Maddison rise unchallenged to head the ball home.
Gresley could have added at least another couple of goals late on. Graves’ long diagonal ball from the left picked out substitute Conner Ward over on the right but the final shot flew across the face of goal.
Graves was inches away from doubling his tally when he almost connected with a low ball into the box from substitute Zac Evans.
The final chance of the game fell to Ward. A superb long ball from Harrison was brought down and controlled beautifully by Ward but, after doing all the hard work, could only fire his final effort into the side netting.
Gresley face another stern test when they visit South Normanton Athletic on Tuesday (7.30pm).
