Evo-Stik NPL League East Division
Elgoods Fenland Stadium, Wisbech.
Saturday, 16th March 2019, 3.00pm
Ten Men Gresley Win At Last
Finally, after 1,620 minutes of league football, Gresley could claim all three points in a hard-fought battle at Wisbech in almost gale force conditions. Coincidently, the last time Gresley scored two goals in a league game was against Wisbech at the Moat Ground back at the end of November.
Gresley manager Gavin Hurren was without Kane Lee who had work commitments but named his assistant manager Spencer Weir-Daley on the bench after recovering from his recent surgery.
The visitors started brightly with the wind in their faces and were soon threatening the home defence. With only 4 minutes on the clock, Albert Lansdowne’s long throw into the box was flicked on at the near post by Joshua McKenzie who was unlucky to see his header cleared off the line with the home keeper Daniel Swan beaten.
Gresley’s pressure paid off on 9 minutes. A corner from the left by Mark Branch was flapped at by Swan and his weak punch dropped at the feet of Mark Smith who smashed the ball into the net from close in.
On 11 minutes Gresley were down to 10 men when Dexter Morris-Clarke saw red after a rash tackle on Jack Keeble. Morris-Clarke had been fouled himself just a few seconds earlier, but the red mist descended, and he was given his marching orders by referee Mr O’Sullivan.
To Gresley’s credit they did not let the loss of Morris-Clarke disturb them and continued to fight the wind, at times gale force, to press the home side back.
On the half-hour Gresley doubled their advantage in somewhat fortuitous conditions. Unfortunately, the home keeper, who had virtually handed Gresley their first goal with his poor punch made an even worse blunder.
Having collected a ball into the area Swan then proceeded to throw the ball into the back of his own defender Jonathan Fairbrother standing a couple of yards in front as he attempted to throw the ball out to the wing. The ball bounced back Devante Reittie was quick to respond to the gift side footing the ball back into the empty net.
Wisbech reduced the arrears on 44 minutes when a cross from the left was headed home by the unmarked Danny Setchell.
As the first half drew to a close, Gresley keeper Aidan Jeynes had to make his first save of the game pushing Toby Hilliard’s shot away to his left.
If Gresley thought they would have the advantage of the gusting wind at their backs they were quickly shown otherwise as Wisbech came at them from the start of the second half.However, a few minutes later Gresley should have increased their advantage. A long ball was collected down the left Reittie and he raced towards the area, he saw team mate McKenzie in space to his right and pushed the ball into his path. The big striker took a couple of strides forward but could only blaze his shot high over the bar.
Another long ball again saw Reittie race down the left and just inside the area appeared to be fouled as he fired wide, but the referee ignored the pleas of the Gresley players and after consulting his assistant gave a goal kick. Anywhere else on the pitch it would surely have been a free kick.
On 66 minutes Weir-Daley replaced Reittie and just 40 seconds after coming on had the chance to open with a debut goal but his shot cleared the bar. Weir-Daly had another chance but again fired over.
With just 10 minutes remaining substitute Dylan Edge thought his powerful header was heading to the far top corner of the net giving his side a share of the points but a top draw save saw Jeynes dive full stretch to his left to tip the effort over the bar, a save worthy of any Match of the Day programme.
A tiring Gresley side were having to defend for all their worth as Wisbech pressed harder and harder to level things. However, Gresley still had a one last chance but Callum Riddell’s well struck free kick from 22 yards went straight at Swan.
With time almost up, Wisbech went the width of a post from snatching a point when Hilliard’s low shot from distance crashed against the base of the far post.
Gresley held on to take all three precious points after playing almost 80 minutes with just 10 men and now look forward to the midweek trip to Stocksbridge Park Steels on Tuesday night.
