Match Report  |  Gresley Rovers vs Bewdley Town

Alfie Burley

Gresley Rovers advanced to the next round of the FA Cup after Danny Munday’s hat-trick guided them to a 3-0 victory over Bewdley Town.

Three second-half strikes from the Gresley striker saw Rovers book a preliminary round tie with Leek Town in a couple of weeks.

Bewdley offered little threat across the 90 minutes, but defended doggedly and made the hosts work hard for their reward.

It was a cagey first half from both sides, with few chances. Rovers attempts at playing out from the back were being cut out by a high Bewdley press - but still there were clear opportunities for the deadlock to be broken.

After a tight opening ten minutes, the first chance finally arrived and it fell the way of Rovers as Steve Hart sent a perfect through ball into the path of Ryan Seal - but the midfielder’s shot was
well tipped away by Joe Sidway.

This combination was offering Gresley some joy in the first half, with Hart once again carving the Bewdley defence open, but this time Seal’s effort was deflected wide of goal by the covering defender.

Town did have chances of their own in the first 45, as they sensed Rovers were struggling to break them down. Luke Morris fired just wide after receiving a cutback from the right, and Simon Rudds should’ve done better when presented with a golden opportunity following a mistake at the back from Gresley.

Just before the half-time whistle, the Moatmen had a golden chance to take the lead. A long-ball from the back caught the Bewdley back-line out, allowing Lucas Powell to race away. The winger comfortably beat his marker for pace, but shot straight at Sidway with the goal gaping.

In the second half, Rovers came out a livelier outfit, and it took them just seven minutes to break the deadlock. Alex Morris used his height to win a header from a throw-in down the right, flicking
the ball over the top of Bewdley’s defence to Hart. Hart spun, and volleyed an attempt straight into the body of Sidway, but the fans in the Moat Ground wouldn’t be left disappointed for long as Munday followed in to open the scoring and his
account for the season.

After finally taking the lead, the only thing standing between Gresley and another goal was an inspired goalkeeper. With Hart bearing down on his goal, the Bewdley number one did well to scupper the striker’s attempt at taking the ball around him.

Then, from the following corner, Sidway produced heroics as he somehow managed to get in the way of Hart’s shot from point-blank range.

Whilst Hart remained frustrated by the marvellous form of the away goalkeeper, Gresley were nearly caught cold as Lewis Fenney was forced to tip an effort around the post late on.

However, the game would be made safe in injury time as after receiving the ball from Seal, Munday cheekily chipped Sidway from the edge of the box.

The striker wasn’t done yet though, as he would complete his hat-trick with the last kick of the game, as he raced onto a goal kick and smashed the ball past Sidway to complete a joyous afternoon for Carl Abbott’s side.