Match Report  |  Gresley Rovers vs Belper United

Gresley Rovers hopes of winning the Don Amott Cup ended abruptly after losing 4-0 to Belper United at the Moat Ground.
After a goalless first half, a dominant final 12 minutes from the away side saw them progress to the final.

Goal from Eric Graves, Jake Dodds and Richard Hanslow was the difference, with Belper United set for the final against either Mickleover or Heanor Town.

The home side had the better of the opening five minutes. After Joe Haines curled one just round the post, it was Danny Munday who had a striking chance inside the box. Bursting down the left, Alex Morris cut the ball back to the striker. Unmarked in the box, Munday’s right footed effort was blazed over the bar.

Gresley’s direct kicks out of defence were causing the Belper defence problems in what was a windy afternoon. Sent over the top, the Belper United defence failed to deal with the ball. Controlled well by Oli Bailey just outside the box, his low shot was pushed wide of the goal by the ‘keeper.

Ambitious efforts followed from Ashley Brown and Aaron Cole, but their attempts from outside the box cleared the bar, leaving the ‘keeper untroubled.

The match was an open affair, with both sides opting for three attackers to keep the oppositions defence on their toes. However, the visitors struggled to create chances, with the aerial presence of the Gresley defence restricting them to just one shot in the opening 30 minutes.

Belper caused most of their problems on the counter and came close through Dylan Garnett. Racing down the left-wing, his driven shot across goal evaded the gloves of Joe Fryatt but rolled agonisingly past the post and his onrushing teammates.
Despite controlling most of the first half, Gresley lacked the chances to show for it. Despite early opportunities, the home side lacked quality in their final pass, with crosses and lofted passes from outside the box either going out for a goal kick or finding the gloves of the ‘keeper.

The second half got off to a slow start, with the first shooting opportunity landing just after the hour mark. After a late challenge from Munday, Belper had a chance direct from a free kick. 30 yards out, Martin Smyth powered a shot at Fryatt, who pushed the ball away from danger.

The opportunity opened the game, with Gresley shooting just wide moments later. After the Belper ‘keeper failed to collect a cross from Joe Haines, the ball landed at the feet of Mason Frizelle. With an open goal to aim at, his first-time effort whistled just past the post.

Balls into the box was the main threat for both opposition boxes, with Hanslow’s header grazing the top of the bar.
Warning signs were showing for the home side, who conceded just minutes later. After a cross into the box was poorly cleared by Danny Holmes, the ball found the feet of Eric Graves. Hitting the ball low, a faint touch from Fryatt was not enough to stop the shot from nestling into the net.

Momentum was in the away sides favour and added two more through Dodds and Graves soon after. Dodds opened his account for the afternoon through a free-kick before Graves doubled his tally after a swivelling volley found the far corner leaving Fryatt routed to the spot.

After missing a header when the scores were level, it was Hanslow who scored the fourth just minutes before the end. A Ryan Baker cross met the attackers diving header, with his effort powering past the ‘keeper.