Match Report  |  Gresley FC vs Heather St John's

At the start of this game Heather were sitting at the top of the table while Gresley sat one from bottom but the game belied that and provided an entertaining game in sweltering conditions at the Moat Ground.

Gresley are still recovering from the sudden departure of manager Gavin Hurren followed by that of assistant manager Dan Crane and player-coach Daryll Thomas. David McDermott was left to manage the side but was helped by Gary Norton and Todd Foster.

The Moatmen’s steadily improving performances was again witnessed by the Gresley faithful and were as close to getting all three points as they’ve been all season and only denied by an equaliser on 97 minutes.

The first half was a very tight affair with neither side creating any clear-cut chances. Kieron Clarke’s effort was easily dealt with by home keeper Ben Allsop, Fraser Doyle headed wide and Clarke’s second chance curled well past the far post.

Gresley came out of the blocks quickly in the second half and from James Bennett-Tindall’s corner from the left the ball was met by David Leak but his goal bound header was tipped over his bar by Stuart Parsons.

More pressing by the home side resulted in Gresley taking the lead on 58 minutes when McDermott was upended in the area by Brett Lloyd who received the game’s first yellow card. Nehemia Zazi stepped up to take the spot kick and comfortably beat Parsons.

One or two of the Heather followers thought they had equalised on 64 minutes, but Clarke’s shot was into the side netting.

Both sides were defending well making it hard for the front men from either team to have a clear attempt on goal.

With time starting to ebb away tempers were frayed on the visitor’s bench leading to two of the management being sent to the stands for the final few minutes.

Gresley supporters thought surely time was up as the clock ticked into the seventh minute of added on time but no, the referee carried on and a shot through a crowded Gresley area from Doyle wrong footed Allsop and the game was all square.

There could have been a controversial twist in the tail as a minute later Heather was awarded a soft penalty. Clarke took the kick but the excellent Allsop chose the correct way and dived full length to his left to push the ball away for a corner and justice was done.

Seconds later the final whistle was blown and Heather mightily relieved to get a point and Gresley disappointed not to have got all three.