Derbyshire Senior Cup 2nd Round
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Tuesday, 6th November 2018, 3.00pm
Senior Cup Exit
It was mixed emotions as Gresley were pleased with the performance overall against their Premier League opponents but disappointed not to have taken the Derbyshire Senior Cup tie to at least penalties.
Gresley manager Gary Norton made changes from Saturday with Eric Graves, Kane Jellyman and Kane Lee all absent.
The game was one of those ‘games of two halves’ with Gresley struggling to get a foothold, despite two good chances to take the lead, in the first half and in the second half dominating most of the play and being denied by the width of a post.
Gresley had a good chance to take an early lead against Mickleover but after Cameron Steele’s fine run down the right his cross to Kieran O’Connell was side footed wide of the far post. Kyle Clamp went close for the visitors firing just over.
Another good chance for the Moatmen went begging on 25 minutes when Mark Branch’s cross from the right was also sidefooted wide but this time by Dominic Allen. Steele continued to cause Sports problems making a good run down the right before firing a low shot held by keeper Lewis King.
Gresley were to rue those misses as Sports took the lead on 28 minutes. A corner was swung in from the left by Ted Cribley and Pablo Mills somehow managed to get a head on the ball and bundle it into the net at the net post.
Second half Gresley took the game to Sports with Martin Smyth having a shot saved at the near post followed by him then putting a shot wide.
Gresley levelled on 70 minutes. Steele collected the ball over on the right and made a determined run into the area and despite the close attendance of two defenders managed to smash his shot past King.
Substitute Callum Riddell was the width of a post from giving Gresley the lead 2 minutes later but his tremendous shot left King stranded but crashed back off the post.
Sports regained the lead when substitute Victor Sodeinge got the benefit of the doubt from the assistant referee as he ran onto a long ball before slipping the ball past the advancing Gresley keeper Oliver Fairbrother.
The Gresley management team must have taken great heart from the performance especially that of the younger players with Cameron Steele in particular who was awarded the man of the match.
