Pre-Season Friendly
The Moat Ground
Saturday, 24th July 2021, 3.00pm
Second Pre-Season Defeat for Rovers
Alfie Burley
Gresley Rovers fell to a second consecutive pre-season defeat after ending up on the wrong side of a five goal thriller with Hinckley at the Moat Ground.
Following a disappointing performance against AFC Wulfrunians, Rovers couldn’t prevent themselves from falling to a second straight defeat as goals from Lewis Rankin, Ky Green and Jeremie Agholor condemned them to a 3-2 loss.
When Steve Hart had opened the scoring, it looked like it was going to be a better 90 minutes for Rovers, but despite Oli Bailey’s second-half finish, Hinckley edged the affair.
Gresley did, however, produce an electric display in the opening stages. Within the first minute they forced Hinckley to clear off their own goal-line when Danny Munday spun and shot towards goal following a neat cross from Bailey.
Just a couple of minutes later the home side had another brilliant opening. Connor Ward’s fantastic chipped pass over the top of the away side’s defence was perfect for Munday - but the striker’s effort was too close to Matt Hill in the Hinckley goal.
Rovers would eventually break the deadlock 24 minutes in, with Bailey’s low cross from the left falling to Hart, and the striker made no mistake - thumping the ball into the back of the net.
Their lead would, however, be short-lived. Just six minutes later, a swift counter-attack would result in the away side’s captain, Rankin being left in acres of space in the Rovers box. After
receiving the ball from the left, the winger found the bottom corner, past Charlie Leake.
The rest of the first period would be a cagey affair, with neither side having a clear-cut-chance to take the lead going into half-time.
Following the break, Hinckley would take just six minutes to take the lead for the first time in the game. After a corner had been half cleared by Rovers, Hinckley’s danger man, Rankin delivered a low cross to the back post, where Green was lurking to apply the finish.
Gresley did muster a good response to going behind, with Hart coming close to doubling his tally for the afternoon, his turn and shot being saved low by Hill.
Substitute, Antonio Wedderburn also came close as he nearly profited over a huge deflection - his shot floating just wide of the target.
In the 70th minute, Rovers would produce an equaliser and level the scores at 2-2. After a corner had been swung in from the right-hand side, a goalmouth scramble ensued. A couple of last ditch blocks on the line had previously denied the home side, but Oli Bailey finally forced the
ball home when the ball dropped kindly for him just inches from the goal-line.
Once again, though, minutes after scoring, Rovers would concede - handing Hinckley their lead back.
Following a good opening for Wedderburn at one end, the away side countered with pace
and intent. A delivery to the back post was perfect for Agholor, and the striker made no mistake in thumping the ball past Leake.
Despite Gresley’s best efforts to get back into the game, it was Hinckley who produced the better late chances, exposing Rovers on the counter-attack.
Ultimately, Hinckley would preserve their advantage and seal a topsy-turvy 3-2 win at the Moat Ground.
