Evo-Stik NPL League East Division
Ings Lane, Tadcaster
Saturday, 20th April 2019, 3.00pm
So Near But So Far Away
This was a good performance from a seriously depleted Gresley side against a play-off contender who, after today’s games, are still in with a shout of reaching the play-offs.
Gresley’s battling performance belied the lowly position they find themselves in and this was attested by the warm applause and comments from the Tadcaster locals as they left the pitch.
Manager Gavin Hurren was given a headache in his selection as many of his squad were unavailable, so he was without Lei Brown, Josh McKenzie, Brad Walsh, Callum Riddell, Kane Lee and Jake McIntosh. However, he had Dexter Morris-Clarke returning after his suspension and brought Harry Heartfield in for his full debut.
On a sweltering afternoon both sides started well with Gresley keeper Ben Allsop having to clear up a long range effort from Albion’s Patrick Miller.
Allsop’s quick clearance sent Gresley racing to the other end saw Connor Deards run on to a pass which dissected the Albion backline and fire past keeper Michael Ingram only for his goal to be harshly adjudged as offside by the assistant referee.
On 21 minutes Albion had the chance to take the lead. Luke Porrit made a dash into the area and was brought down giving referee Mr Sowerby no option but to point to the spot. Aaron Hardy took the kick but clattered his shot off the base of the post.
On the half hour Gresley were in front. A ball out of defence was collected by Morris-Clarke who made one of his lung-busting runs through the middle before picking out Spencer Weir-Daley to his left. The assistant manager raced forwards and smashed a shot into the net between the keeper and post finishing off a fine move despite getting a good hand on the ball.
Albion fired a shot wide of the mark as they looked to get back on level terms before the break.
On 46 minutes Gresley make another good flowing attack only for the danger to be stubbed out by Hardy.
Gresley were inches away of doubling their advantage when Devante Reittie’s run down the right ended with a shot which whistled past junction of post and bar.
On 70 minutes Heartfield, who had had a very good game, had to be replaced by Micah Edwards due to a hamstring injury.
Albion got the goal their second half showing deserved but Gresley were unfortunate to concede. A soft free kick around 25 yards out saw Jake Rose hammer in his shot which Allsop did well to block only for Aiden Savory to ram the loose ball into the net.
Gresley’s afternoon got more difficult when Cameron Steele had to hobble off with a groin problem as the home side pressed for a winner. Allsop was needed to keep out a good shot at his back post.
Gresley had a chance to retake the lead on 85 minutes but the break which saw them with three up front, fizzled out as the final shot flew wide.
Cruelly Gresley conceded on 86 minutes but it was a very good goal. Will Annan cut in from the left before curling a superb shot into the top far corner giving Allsop no chance.
Gresley didn’t give up and had a glorious chance to have grabbed a fully deserved point. Reittie managed to get on the end of a poor back header from Harry Coates cut into the area on the left but, with two team mates racing through the middle, he chose to try and curl it past Ingham who managed to grab the ball and the chance was gone.
If Gresley could replicate this sort of effort and determination in the final two games of the season it could be a very tense end to the season.
