Evo-Stik NPL League East Division
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Tuesday, 2nd October 2018, 3.00pm
Gresley Grind Out A Vital Win
Gresley have failed to beat Stamford at home in a league game since returning to the Evo-Stik league but not tonight.
In a proverbial game of two halves Gresley went in at the break a goal down but again turned the game on its head in the second scoring two goals to take all three points.
Manager Gary Norton had to shuffle his squad and bring in a keeper after Jack Livesey failed to recover from a back injury collected at Carlton and Ben Allsop who was outstanding on Saturday away on a few days break which he had arranged while on loan at Stapenhill who did not have a midweek game.
Thankfully, Burton Albion was able to help again loaning the club young academy keeper Oliver Fairbrother at short notice.
Top scorer Martin Smyth was unavailable due to work commitments and Albert Lansdowne, Dexter Morris-Clarke, Matt Roome, Ryan King and Zakim Evans all on the injured list.
Gresley started well with Lucas Harrison testing the resolve of visiting keeper Danny Haystead with his well struck free kicks. The first Haystead couldn’t hold with the ball scrambled away for a corner. The second kick from a similar position was also powerfully struck and once more Haystead failed to keep hold of the ball having to grab it at the second attempt before any Gresley player could strike.
Slowly, the visitors began to take control and went close with Rob Morgan heading Jake Duffy’s free kick against the post.
On 20 minutes Stamford missed a golden opportunity to take the lead. Another fine free kick from Duffy was headed over the bar by Joe Burgess from close in. Cameron Steele also headed over the bar for Gresley.
Fairbrother made the first of a few good saves diving to his left to push Stanley Mugisha’s shot on the turn for a corner from just inside the area.
However, the keeper could not do anything to prevent Stamford from taking the lead on 32 minutes. Duffy this time sent in a superb corner from the left and Burgess, who had missed a chance earlier, powered home his header from close in.
Whatever Norton said at the break seemed to have the desired affect and Gresley can out of the trap for the second half quickly pressing the visitors back. However, it was not until the 72nd minute that the first half chance turned up. A shot from Cameron Steele was blocked but substitute Callum Riddel, who had replaced Kane Jellyman a few minutes earlier, put the rebound over the bar.
With Gresley pressing forward they were almost caught out when a long ball caught the defence high up the pitch and substitute Liam Adams had only Fairbrother to beat but the young keeper came off his line quickly and blocked Adams’ shot.
Gresley levelled on 76 minutes. A cross from the right found Riddell who took a touch before rifling a well struck shot which went in off the near post.
Stamford hit back but was again thwarted by Fairbrother. Duffy’s pinpoint corner from the right found Morgan but the keeper reacted well to push the header away for a corner.
Gresley took the lead with just 10 minutes of the game remaining when a short corner from the right found Jamie Barrett who smashed a shot goalward and the ball came off the distraught Chris Salt and into the net.
The home side saw out the remaining minutes to claim a very welcome win and move up to the giddy heights of fifth in the table.
