Evo-Stik NPL League East Division
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 22nd September 2018, 3.00pm
Whites Washed By Gresley
A second half comeback saw Gresley take all three points at the Moat Ground against a determined Lincoln United side.
After trailing by the odd goal at the break Gresley changed formation and the changes paid off as they went on to take all three points.
Gresley started well enough with Martin Smyth heading Mark Branch’s corner wide and then forcing another corner seconds later.
However, Lincoln started to take control and after 7 minutes Andy Hutchinson fired a shot straight at keeper Jack Livesey.
Lucas Harrison’s free kick on the edge of the ‘D’ flew over and for Lincoln Norris burst forward but was denied by Livesey who came quickly off his line to block the shot.
The Whites took the lead on 16 minutes from a well-constructed move down the left. A ball was sent forward, and Scott Matthews raced towards the bye line before sending over a pinpoint cross which was met by the rising Tom Garrick in the six-yard box who promptly powered his header past the helpless Livesey.
The goal gave the visitors a lift and a free kick from the left saw Gresley trying to scramble the ball away, but it came back, and a shot needed the legs of Livesey to block a shot to keep the score at just one goal.
Gresley did have a couple of chances late in the half to try and level the score. A cross from the left was put over the bar by Smyth followed by Dexter Morris-Clarke bursting into the 18-yard box only to fire his low shot just the wrong side of the left post.
The home side looked a different side in the second half from that of the first. A change of formation seemed to give them the impetus they’d lacked, and they were soon testing the visiting keeper Michael Emery with Smyth firing a shot which needed to be pushed away.
A couple of minutes later Kieran O’Connell cut in from the left but hit shot wide of the near post. Smyth then curled a shot fractionally wide of the far post. For Lincoln, Matthews headed wide from a rare foray into the Gresley third.
The goal that Gresley needed came on 56 minutes and O’Connell was involved again. A good run down the right ended with him putting a cross to Alex Steadman who took one touch before slipping the ball past Emery.
It was no more than the home side deserved and indeed it got better when 9 minutes later they took the lead. Once more Smyth was causing problems for the visiting defence and as he strode into the area he was brought down by Sean Wright, and referee Mr Bowkett didn’t hesitate in awarding the penalty. Smyth took the kick sending Emery the wrong way from the spot.
Matt Cotton went close to equalising on 74 minutes, but his well struck effort was tipped over the bar by Livesey up in the near corner of his goal. The resultant corner by Matthews was headed over by Sean Wright.
Lincoln went close again on 83 minutes. Substitute Callum Chapman got behind the Gresley defence on the right and raced along the bye line before drilling a low cross into the area but a shot from close in was saved by Livesey.
With normal time up Gresley should have extended their lead when substitutes Kane Lee and Callum Riddell combined well to set Lee up but the front man blazed his shot over the bar.
