United Counties Premier Division North
The Moat Ground
Saturday, 18th September 2021, 3.00pm
High Five For Rovers
Harry Tizard
Gresley Rovers continued their strong start to the season with a 5-1 away win against Melton Town.
A brace from Steve Hart in the first-half helped the Moatmen turn the score in their favour after Henry Dunn gave the hosts the lead.
Despite Hart putting Gresley in front, it was Munday who grabbed the headlines on Saturday. With Melton committing players forward in search for an equaliser, Munday made the most of their defensive frailties by scoring a second-half hat-trick, giving Gresley a flattering yet deserved victory.
Despite a frustrating loss against Heanor Town on the opening day of the season,
Rovers’ have been unbeaten in the league ever since, and currently sit third in the league with 16 points out of a possible 21.
Despite there being no shots to talk of in the opening exchanges of the match, it was Melton Town who took control. Pinning Gresley into their own half, the home side won a flurry of corners, dealing with the visitors’ long ball passes with relative ease.
Rovers’ contained the attacking threat of Melton and turned the momentum of the game into their favour 10 minutes into the match. Hart had the first opportunity, rolling past two defenders before his driven pass across the box was intercepted by a sliding defender, deciding against a possible shooting opportunity when one-on-one with goalkeeper Bill Harrison.
Hart was at it again moments later. After Munday scuffed Michael William’s cross the ball fell to the striker, but his tame volley was easily collected by the ‘keeper.
The save by Harrison was more than matched by Lewis Fenny on the opposite side of the pitch moments later. Latching onto a ball in the box, Spencer Weir-Daly had a few seconds to compose himself before drilling his shot at the feet of Fenny.
Melton attacked well, having shots blocked inside the box as well as off the line by Williams before finding the lead just past the half-hour mark. Sam Muggleton sprayed a ball just outside the box to an open Dunn. Free on the edge, Dunn fired his shot into the far corner, past a diving Fenny.
Gresley hit back with an immediate response. Collecting the ball on the right side of the box, Hart used his close control well to get past an onrushing defender before dribbling past a further two and shooting under Harrison in the Melton net.
The Gresley striker could have had his second minutes after scoring his first of the game, but his curling effort from inside the box was poked wide by the feet of the keeper.
Hart, who had a big opportunity saved before, converted the following chance to send the Gresley away following into raptures. Kane Lee stole the ball off the Melton backline and fed it to a waiting Hart just outside the box. Positioned centrally, the clinical forward rifled his effort into the bottom corner to send the away side into the lead at the break.
Melton looked dangerous in the second-half, but balls into the box were cleared well by Alex Morris and Mason Frizelle.
Hart was always lurking on the halfway line waiting for a counter-attacking opportunity, playing a vital role in Gresley’s third goal of the match. Holding the ball up, Hart waited for onrushing support, switching the play to George Clark on the opposite flank.
Sprinting at the defence, the right-back rolled the ball into Munday, who stroked the ball past the ‘keeper into the opposite corner.
Melton continued to probe for a goal that would get them back into the contest, but the Rovers’ resolute backline blocked any incoming shot, with Fenny rarely being called into action in the Gresley goal.
As Melton pushed players forward gaps in their defence started to show, with Munday making the most of the newfound space in behind. Launched over the top of the backline, Munday wrestled off two backtracking defenders before slotting in past Harrison.
Munday scored his third and Gresley’s fifth to complete the match in style. Getting away from his marker at the back-post, Munday was free and slotted past the ‘keeper with ease.
The away win against Melton means Carl Abbott’s side have now been victorious in five successive matches in all competitions and will look to continue their good form when they face Winsford United away in the Buildbase FA Vase 2nd Qualifying round.
