Match Report  |  Gresley FC vs AFC Mansfield

This game was a case of deja vu. Last week Gresley had the better of the first half, created lots of chances but could not put the ball away. Second half Gresley faded alarmingly allowing Sheffield to score two quick goals to run away with the points.

The same this week, hit the post twice and one cleared off the line in the first half but could not find the back of the net. This time a late goal gave the visitors the lead but second half two quick goals knocked the stuffing out of Gresley and Mansfield went on to take all three points.

Frustratingly for the Moat Ground faithful Gresley started well and were soon testing the visiting keeper with Callum Riddell’s goal bound shot being pushed onto the post by Jason White with just 4 minutes on the clock.

Lei Brown then kept White busy with a low shot while 10 minutes later Brad Lawley was heading Mark Branch’s corner narrowly over the bar.

More Gresley pressure came but agonisingly the ball would not go in the net. This time Joseph Haines was unlucky as his shot from the left was flicked onto the post by a Mansfield defender.

The first chance of not for the visitors came on 32 minutes but Oliver Fearon’s header went well wide.

Gresley keeper Ben Allsop had his first save to make getting down quickly to his right to push Fearon’s effort away.

Riddell had the chance to put his side ahead with just 5 minutes of the first half remaining, but the outstretched leg of White denied him.

Gresley were left to rue that missed opportunity because 3 minutes later the Bulls took the lead. A long throw from the left near the corner flag flew into the net helped, if at all, by the faintest of touches from the head of Jack Broadhead.

Kane Lee had a glorious chance of levelling the scores on the stroke of halftime when, after beating two defenders and rounding the keeper, he was denied a goal by a defender who had got back to clear the effort off the line.

Gresley’s frustrations were starting to show early in the second half with Lawley and Brown being showed a yellow card each along with Julian Lawrence for the visitors.

Devante Reittie replaced Lee who has been struggling with a slight Achilles injury, at half time and he went close with a shot that flew wide.

Gresley were disappointingly again caught out by a long throw this time from the right. The ball found Jordan Anable and despite Allsop getting a good hand to the ball it went in off the underside of the bar.

Gresley lost the ball almost from the kick off and with them pressing high up the pitch were caught out by a long punt sending Oliver Fearon in on goal. Allsop came rushing out of the area but Fearon easily rounded him and slotted the ball into the wide-open net.

The home side looked a beaten side with Reittie having one more effort but his shot flew wide.

This was a thoroughly disappointing result with it being a game where a win may have been possible. Gresley’s final three games are as tough as they get, away at Tadcaster, home to Loughborough and away at Pontefract. Any chance of a point or two looks very slim indeed.