FA Cup Preliminary Round
Coles Lane, Sutton Coldfield
Saturday, 25th August 2018, 3.00pm
No FA Cup Run For Gresley
For the second season running Gresley failed to make it past the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup away from home. This time it was at the home of Sutton Coldfield Town who ended up winning three-nil.
For Gresley it was a case of ‘after the Lord Mayor’s Show’ following a very entertaining midweek game at home to Stocksbridge. Today, nearly all the players looked lethargic and although they improved for the second half, after a fairly lacklustre first, they failed to test home keeper Lewis Gwilliam with any shot of note.
Gresley were caught napping on 6 minutes as they fell behind. A needless free kick saw Dan Lomas send over the ball and some sloppy defending allowed Mitch Clarke the easy task of steering it into the net at the far post.
The visitors carved out a half chance on 17 minutes when Martin Smyth headed on Mark Branch’s free kick to Kieran O’Connell, but his final header lacked any power and was easily dealt with by Gwilliams.
Even though the 3G surface is a reasonable one, unfortunately the ball was spending an inordinate amount of time in the air instead of on the ground.
Both sides were struggling to find any sort of consistency with passes going astray on a regular basis making the game very scrappy punctuated by silly free kicks.
Smyth went close for Gresley planting his header just over the bar from Branches’ free kick.
Whatever manager Gary Norton said to his side at the break seemed to have some affect as they looked more up for it during the second half.
Kane Lee, who had replaced Alex Steadman, laid the ball on for O’Connell who fired his shot wide and minutes later Smyth had a chance, but his shot flew agonisingly a fraction wide of the post.
The industrious Dexter Morris-Clarke made a good run into The Royals area but his shot was blocked. The rebound came to Smyth who fired wide.
Gresley were pushing hard for an equaliser and they were caught when they failed to clear the ball but a ricochet landed kindly for Omar Haughton and he took full advantage racing to the tough line before slipping the ball across the area to Jordan Nadat who tapped the ball home.
Two minutes later the game was effectively over when Gresley were caught again. A quick break down the left by Leo Brown ended with his cross picking out fellow substitute Harvey Howell who drilled a low shot into the corner.
Gresley almost conceded another when they were once more pressing forward and were awarded a corner. Sutton Coldfield made a long high clearance and Haughton beat the high defensive line but young Gresley keeper came racing out to make a fine block.
The score-line was harsh on Gresley but it’s the end of the FA Cup for yet another season and Norton has now to galvanise his disappointed side ready for Bank Holiday Monday’s short trip to face Belper Town this time for league points.
