Midland Football League Premier Division
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 5th October 2019, 3.00pm
The Wait Goes ON
Gresley are still looking for their first win of the season in the league after being beaten by Highgate United at the Moat Ground.
In a few games this season they have given themselves a mountain to climb at half time and so it was today.
Gresley manager Dave McDermott was without David Leak and Conor Gater so he shuffled his side to try and get that that elusive win.
Highgate took the lead on 21 minutes when Gresley gave away a needless free kick. Alex Price swung the ball over to the right and a cross was put into the edge of the 6-yard box where Chris Spencer was waiting to fire the ball home. For Gresley Joel Howes went close but put his shot wide of the near post.
Highgates doubled their lead on 36 minutes. A long ball was pumped forward where Jacob Sturgess was waiting to clear the danger. However, former Moatman Lei Brown appeared to foul Sturgess in the D but amazingly referee Mr Clenton allowed play to continue and Brown coolly lobbed the ball over Ben Allsop and into the net.
Gresley made a change at the break with Mark Potts replacing Howes. The change seemed to give the home side a bit of a spark and as they pressed forward Nehemia Zazi was brought down in the area and the referee pointed to the spot. Zazi took the shot himself and although the keeper got a hand to the ball diving to his left the ball, he could not prevent the ball from going into the net.
The home side were forced into a change on 62 minutes when Potts, who was bravely going in for the ball, was clattered by the keeper James Beeson and received a serious cut around his eye. McKlane Durdey replaced Potts as the unlucky player was escorted off to the dressing room for treatment which ultimately resulted in a hospital visit for stitches.
On 70 minutes Highgate were reduced to 10 men when Brown was shown a straight red card. However, the loss of Brown did not seem to disrupt things for the visitors. Indeed, they scored a third goal just five minutes later.
With Gresley pressing high up the pitch searching for the leveller they were caught out by a fast break down the right. Stuart Hendrie finished his run by putting the ball into the Gresley box and substitute Seegu Sebbeh Njie had the easy task to slot the ball in at the far post.
Gresley still tried to push forward with Sam Pilkington firing just wide and Zazi, after being put through down the left curled his shot wide of the far post.
