Match Report  |  Gresley Rovers vs Ingles

Gresley Rovers rounded off the Don Amott Cup group stage in style with a 4-2 win over Ingles.

Following previous victories against Borrowash Victoria, Ashby Ivanhoe and Mickleover, the Moatmen have collected maximum points out of their four games.
In an action packed 10 minute first half spell, the home side gained the advantage on both a goalscoring front and the men remaining on the pitch.

After Mason Frizelle headed home the opening goal of the game, Ingles were left with 10 men after striker Tyler Dunlop was shown red for an elbow.

The home side made their man advantage count and scored their second through another headed goal this time it was Danny Munday who found the back of the net.

Munday scored his sides third goal in the game in-between away goals from Matt Munday and Ryan Hardy to set the score a 3-2 with eight minutes remaining.

However, the visitors failed to find an equaliser, and conceded their fourth of the match in the last minute, with Steve Hart finding the far corner.

Heading into the game the heavy favourites, Gresley dominated the ball in oppositions final third, but mustered just a single shot on target in the opening 20 minutes of the game.

Hart was the man with it, but his dragged right-footed strike from the edge of the box rolled into the keepers’ gloves.

Usually accustomed to the centre of the Rovers’ backline, it was Alex Morris who was positioned in the left-back position. Overlapping down his natural side, the defender paced forwards before curling a low ball into the box. Grazing the grass positioned just outside the six-yard box, the ball evaded the foot of an onrushing Danny Munday and out for a goal kick.

Hart should have opened his scoring just minutes later. After Oli Bailey cut the ball towards his strike partner inside the box, the Gresley attack moved the ball onto his left foot before smashing the ball just wide the ‘keepers right post.
Ingles struggled to retain possession at the Moat Ground, with long balls aimed towards isolated forward Dunlop swept away with easy by the home sides resolute backline.

Despite containing the hosts, Ingles could not withstand Gresley’s pressure for the entire half, with the deadlock broken just after the half-hour mark. A quick short corner was directed to Lee Butler, who’s in swinging cross from the right was nodded in by Frizelle.

This was the beginning of a bad 10-minute spell for the visitors. After Dunlop saw red for an elbow, the Moatmen increased their advantage. Makeshift left-back Morris made his position look like a natural one. Whipping the ball in from near the corner flag, his cross was met by Munday, who powered in his first goal of the tournament.

Frizelle almost rounded his and Gresley’s half off in style just before the break. Looking for his second and the home sides third headed goal of the game. The corner from Butler found him just infront of goal, bit his deflected effort nestled into the hands of Shay Abell.

Gresley started the second half brightly and could have increased their goal advantage to three. After Oli Baily was pulled down in the box, it was Hart who was given the responsibility from the spot. Curling the ball to the right of the ‘keeper, the Ingles shot stopper pulled out an outstretched save to keep the score at 2-0.

The missed opportunity presented Ingles with an opportunity in the game, which they took. After a ball was looped in from the left-side, the ball was knocked in by Brown to half the deficit.
Despite gaining a foothold in the game, they struggled to create chances, and it was Gresley who got the fourth goal of the match. Quick passes between Louis Briscoe and Munday advanced the home side up the pitch before the final ball fell to the later the penalty spot. His first-time sweeping effort deflected pass the goalkeeper and restored the host’s what seemed to be a healthy advantage.

The away side failed to rest on the result and responded with a goal of their own to set up a tense end to the game. Playing the ball onto his left-foot, Hardy drove his shot under Joe Fryatt to cause elation in the visiting dugout.

Keith Thomas can close to sealing the win with just minutes to play when he stroked a shot straight at the ‘keeper, but this miss wasn’t costly, with Hart making up for his missed penalty in added time. Collecting the ball from the left of the box, he drove his shot across the ‘keeper and into the far corner.

The win means that the Moatmen picked up four wins from a possible four in the group stage of the Don Amott Cup and will face Belper United in the semi-final.