Match Report  |  Cleethorpes Town vs Gresley FC

Gresley caretaker managers Carl Slater and John Williamson once again had to dig deep into the club’s reserve side to make up a squad for the long journey to Cleethorpes. Included in that squad were two 18-year-old players, the only substitutes available.

Playing 4 at the back 5 in midfield and one up front, Gresley held Cleethorpes for the whole of the first half with some battling defending.

However, after just 5 minutes Cleethorpes went close to opening the scoring with a shot across the face of Gresley’s goal.

On 19 minutes a cross from the left by Paul Walker should have seen the home side take the lead but a header from a good position went over the bar.

Josh Batty then tested Gresley keeper Oliver Fairbrother with a header which went straight at the keeper’s midriff.

On 39 minutes Slater had to leave the pitch with an injury being replaced by Harry Heartfield.

Despite Cleethorpes’ pressure Gresley were holding out and continued to do so until the halftime whistle.

Gresley had the first chance of the second half after 2 minutes but Eric Graves’ burst into the area ended with a shot straight at home keeper Theo Richardson.

All the good work from Gresley so far was undone with two quick goals. A needless free kick on the left by Cameron Steele gave Alex Flett the opportunity to swing over a ball to the back post where Paul Walker rose unchallenged to head the first goal home.

Cleethorpes doubled their advantage 6 minutes later when another cross from the left was half parried by Fairbrother for the waiting Josh Batty to side foot home from close in.

Gresley were still defending well but with players physically tiring and running with knocks, they were forced into a change with Myles Botfield replacing the hobbling Josh Garland who had looked quite dangerous alongside Kane Lee.

The best goal of the game came on 63 minutes from a quick break. Gresley had been putting the Cleethorpes defence under some pressure but the ball was cleared and a good run down the left saw Brody Robertson cut in before slipping the ball past Fairbrother.

Gresley went close when Steele was pushed forward. His shot from the right across the Cleethorpes goal was pushed away by Richardson but amazingly the referee Mr Jones gave a goal kick making the keeper smile.

The slight change of formation began to give Gresley a glimmer of hope. Lee slid a superb ball to his right to Steele, but the final shot was straight at Richardson.

That was the final chance for Gresley but Cleethorpes still looked as if they could add more to their tally. Lewis Collins brought out a good save from Fairbrother forcing the young keeper to tio his well struck shot over the bar. From the resultant corner, Fairbrother was called on again to make a save at his near post.

The game ended with home substitute Jack Boswell seeing his shot from the left sliding past the far post with Fairbrother beaten.