Evo-Stik NPL League East Division
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 1st September 2018, 3.00pm
Smyth Spot On
This was as close a game as you could watch without it ending in a draw. Both sides had chances and Gresley’s two converted spot kicks the difference despite Tadcaster scoring late on.
Gresley went close on 7 minutes with Eric Graves shooting wide of the near post. Two minutes later Kane Lee went close heading Dexter Morris-Clarke’s cross from the right just over the bar.
The visitors had a golden chance on 15 minutes. With Gresley’s defence dozing Joe Lumsden raced into the open but put his shot wide of the far post with just the keeper to beat. Martin Smyth hit a low shot which was held by visiting keeper Michael Ingham.
The deadlock was broken on 42 minutes when Billy Whitehouse was adjudged, by referee Mr Ricardo, to have handled the ball in his own area. Smyth placed the ball on the spot before sending Ingham the wrong wat to give the Moatmen the lead.
There were quite a few minutes to add on due to an earlier clash of heads which needed treatment and during the added on time Gresley went close to extending their lead. Morris-Clarke made one of his usual runs down the left before slipping the ball to Lee who was unlucky to see his effort fly wide of the near post.
Albion came out for the second period looking far more determined and they had two good chances to level the proceedings. The first on 50 minutes saw Corey Roper smash a shot wide and three minutes later Lumsden had arguably the best chance of the two but again wasted his opportunity after firing wide after being put through on goal.
Albion were threatening and a free kick from the right by Whitehouse was met by Harry Coates but his header was tipped onto the bar and over by Livesey with the referee giving a goal kick!
Livesey continued his good form ten minutes later by denying Coates yet again by pushing his powerful header from Whitehouse’s corner away for another corner.
Gresley went agonisingly close to doubling their advantage on 79 minutes when Smyth’s goal bound shot was cleared off the line at the far post.
Livesey kept his side in front twice in the space of three minutes. A well hit shot was blocked by the young keeper followed by an even better block with his legs to deny Lumsden yet again.
Gresley did get their second goal and it was from another spot kick on 85 minutes. Kieran O’Connell made run into the area where he was bundled over by a defender giving the referee no option but to award a penalty. Smyth once more took the kick beating Ingham for the second time from the spot.
It wasn’t Lumsden’s day as he fluffed his lines yet again on 88 minutes scuffing his shot from Casey Stewart over the bar from close in.Stewart himself tried his luck minutes later but Livesey pushed the low shot away.
Albion got a deserved goal deep into time added on. A corner was met superbly by substitute Chris Howarth on the edge of the area and his thunderous volley beat Livesey despite the keeper getting a good hand to the shot.
Gresley held on to record their second win of the campaign and another welcome three points.