Match Report  |  Gresley FC vs Rugby Town

Gresley were seconds away from forcing an extra 30 minutes play but were denied by the boot of Lee Thomas but Rugby hung on to win their way into the next round of the FA Vase.

The home side were without Jordan Fitzpatrick and Joe Haines but introduced Jack Walsh who had returned to Mickleover Sports at the end of August but has returned to the Moat Ground.

Rugby Town put Gresley under pressure early in forcing several corners, but they could not capitalise on them.

Walsh warmed the palms of visiting keeper Matt Hill, but the game was void of any clear-cut chances at either end. Albert Lansdowne had a decent shot deflected as the first half came to a close.

Rugby started the second half strongly and went close to taking the lead on 54 minutes but Liam Francis’s free header from Ryan Seal’s corner came off the far post and away.

James Bennett-Tindall hit a well struck free kick straight into the midriff of Hill but still the clear-cut chances were nowhere to be seen. Lansdowne also directed his free kick from the left straight at Hill and the frustration from both sides was clearly evident.

However, Rugby took a fortunate lead on 78 minutes. A ball into the area by Charlie Evans was not cleared by the Gresley defenders and fell nicely for Jazz Luckie and true to his name he found the ball at his feet and he put his shot past Ben Allsop from close in.

With only seconds remaining of the game, Nehemia Zazi thought he’d kept his side in the game when he stabbed the ball towards the empty net as Hill was caught trying to clear the ball. However, Thomas somehow managed to get back and clear the ball as it was about to cross the line.

This was perhaps the best showing from Gresley so far this season and they were extremely unlucky not to have at least forced Rugby into extra time as the visitors only shot on target produced the only goal of the game.