Evo-Stik NPL League East Division
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 6th April 2019, 3.00pm
Sheffield Too Sharp For Gresley
I seems as if the footballing gods have conspired against Gresley as once more, despite dominating the first half, they come away from a game without anything to show for their endeavours.
A combination of some smart saves, two goal line clearances and a nailed-on penalty not given denied Gresley from going in at the break at least a couple of goals to the good.
To be fair play-off contenders Sheffield had the better of the second half and scored with a well taken free kick and two sloppy goals conceded by Gresley.
Manager Gavin Hurren was again without the suspended Dexter Morris-Clarke and unavailable Joseph Haines who had been influential in the last few games.
Gresley started well with Lei Brown being denied by a goal line clearance after just 6 minutes. Kane Lee’s low shot forced visiting keeper into parrying the ball and a few minutes later Lee brought out a smart save from Jordan Amissah.
The home side where making all the chances with one, a header, going over the bar from Brown. Gresley were unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty but the referee Mr Richardson thought a tackle through the back of the player as he’s about to shoot was okay!
Gresley finished the half well on top with another effort being cleared off the line this time from Callum Riddell.
The Gresley faithful showed their appreciation as their players came off the pitch.
The second half belonged to Sheffield as their fitness began to tell on a visibly tiring Gresley and their pressure paid dividends on 49 minutes.
A poorly conceded free kick saw John Pugh curl a well struck shot around the wall and into the top far corner. An almost identical free kick, this time from the right, which gave Lincoln the points last week.
Gresley, to their credit, still went forward with Brown heading wide and Bradley Lawley firing a shot high and wide.
On the hour mark a well struck shot from Mitchell Dunne crashed back off the bar as Sheffield went looking for more goals.
On 76 minutes the visitors doubled their advantage. Mark Branch was robbed of the ball down the right and a quick break ended with Marc Newsham coolly chipping the cross-field pass over the head of Ben Allsop and into the net.
Two minutes later and more sloppy defending saw substitute Luke Rawson firing across Allsop and into the bottom far corner of the net.
Gresley rallied for the final few minutes or so with substitute Spencer Weir-Daley clipping the bar with a shot from the right and following it up seconds later with a shot just wide of the far post. Cameron Steele’s header went straight at Amissah.
This score line flattered Sheffield somewhat but for them a win was vital as it would have been for Gresley but for far different reasons. Gresley needed the points to try and drag themselves off the bottom of the table while Sheffield are pushing for a play-off place.
Four games remain for Gresley to try and salvage their season but they get no easier. A 90 minutes showing with the effort of the first half today may, just may give them the rewards they are hoping for.
