Match Report  |  Stourport Swifts vs Gresley FC

By Alfie Burley

Joe Billingham’s stunning strike condemned Gresley to a harsh 2-0 defeat at Walshes Meadow, meaning they remained rooted to the foot of the table.

A goal against the run of play from Lewis Clarke in the first half had given the home side their lead before they doubled it early in the second half thanks to a sublime strike from MacPhearson. A missed penalty from Jack Downing provided a glimmer of hope for the Moatmen, but the away side could not ultimately make Stourport rue their missed chance.

The away side, however, did start the brighter at Walshes Meadow, completely controlling the opening half hour. Despite suffering the loss of captain, Jordan Fitzpatrick due to a broken nose early on, the Moatmen continued to battle and fashioned out a couple of great opportunities. First, Joe Haines’ pull-back from the by-line was met by Kyle Parchment who forced the ‘keeper into a good near-post save. Whilst debutant, Michael Nelson sent a thunderous shot whistling wide.

Yet, Gresley failed to make their dominance count for anything, and the bad luck that they have become accustomed to in recent times, came back to haunt them again in the 34th minute. Pinball in the area eventually led to a lucky deflection which ricocheted straight to Lewis Clarke. Inside the area, and with the whole goal to aim at, Clarke notched his second goal in as many games with a calm finish into the bottom left corner.

This goal seemed to rock Gresley as the home side started to open up the Moatmen’s defence more readily. Only a brilliant challenge from Jack Walsh prevented Jack Downing from running through on goal. At the other end, however, superb trickery from Louis Briscoe nearly earned the away side a deserved equaliser, but Joe Haines’ attempt from the edge of the area was comfortably wide.

The second half however, was a different story with Stourport starting the brighter. The home side nearly doubled their lead just minutes after the restart, Jack Downing bearing down on goal before forcing Ben Allsop into a save at his near post. That same man turned provider as he found Nick MacPhearson with a sublime cross, but the striker was denied by a fantastic point-blank save from Ben Allsop.

Yet, it wouldn’t be long before the home side doubled their advantage anyway. In the 64th minute, a fantastic turn and pass from Martin Slevin found Billingham, who lined himself up before unleashing a beautifully weighted strike, which looped over Ben Allsop before dipping beneath the bar, a goal worthy to win any game.

The Swifts even had the chance to consolidate victory just six minutes later. Substitute, Kartell O’Neill caused havoc down the left when he came on, and his trickery led to the referee adjudging that Jacob Sturgess had upended the winger in the box. However, they would ultimately miss the chance to put the game to bed with top scorer, Jack Downing blazing over from the spot.

Whilst the penalty miss could’ve sparked a comeback for the away side, Gresley just couldn’t get their final ball right. The closest they came from setting up a grandstand finish was when the dangerous Michael Nelson cut inside and unleashed a shot, but it was comfortably dealt with by the Swifts’ backline. If anything Stourport could’ve increased the margin of victory when Lewis Clarke took a shot from the edge of the box after a good pass from O’Neill, yet Allsop proved to be equal to it.

For Gresley, it’s as hard as they come on Saturday, a home match against table-topping Walsall Wood.