Match Report  |  Gresley Rovers vs Sleaford Town

Harry Tizard
Gresley Rovers retained their 100% home winning record and place at the top of the UCL Premier League North with a 2-0 win against Sleaford Town.

After starting slowly, Gresley gained the lead with only a handful of minutes remaining of the first-half through Alby Lansdowne’s first goal of the season.

The opening goal of the game swung the momentum in favour of the Rovers, with Seal doubling their advantage from the penalty spot in the opening minutes of the second-half to help his side gain their eighth win of the season.

It was Sleaford who had the opening chance of the game. Ben Fidling weaved past two Gresley defenders in the box to create an opening, but Lewis Fenny came out quickly to block the shot.

The away side controlled the first 15 minutes of the game, with Tom Ward doing well to control the presence of Steve Hart in the attack.

Nullifying the Moatmen’s attack, Sleaford had a second one-on-one opportunity themselves. This time it was Ryan Rushen with the effort, but Fenny was equal to it once again, rushing out to the striker and making another crucial save.

It took the home side until the 20th minute to awaken the crowd with a shot at goal. Playing right-back due to the suspension of George Clark, Izak Reid cut inside from the wing before unleashing a shot that flew just over the bar.

Ben Martin was then called into action moments later. Originally parrying a deflected effort from Seal, the ‘keeper got back to his feet quickly to deny the incoming Munday, making a smart double save.

The game was end-to-end, with Sleaford going close once again. After Rushen brought down a long ball brilliantly, he pulled a ball across to Mitchell Griffiths. Emerging from his right-back position, his lashed effort flew wide at the near post.

Restricted to limited chances compared to previous games, Gresley found an opening with less than five minutes remaining of the first-half. Whipped in from a corner, Kane Lee knocked the ball down to an open Lansdowne, who found the top corner from close range.

Rushen could have equalised with seconds to spare of the opening 45 minutes, but his attempt from inside the box failed to trouble the ‘keeper, clearing the bar with his strike.

Hart had a quiet first-half but could have scored second into the second period. Latching onto a flicked ball from Mason Frizelle, the forward’s first-time effort went straight into the hands of Martin.

The striker was pestering the opposition defence and won a penalty for his side moments after having his shot saved. Captain Seal took responsibility for the penalty, sending the ‘keeper the wrong way and rolling the ball into the net.

Fenny was at the heart of the action at the start of the first-half with a couple of vital saves and was required to do so once again just past the hour mark. A lobbed ball into the box from a deep free-kick came to the head of Ryan Anderson in the centre of the box.

The header was smartly directed to the bottom corner, but his effort was matched by Fenny, who pushed the ball around the post to maintain his clean sheet as well as Gresley’s comfortable lead in the game.

Two goals could have quickly become three through Lee. Winning the ball from the Sleaford defence, the attacker chose to go himself in pursuit of a goal but pulled his shot wide.

Scoring in five consecutive games, Seal had two opportunities to get a brace in the match. First having a shot blocked off the line, the goalscoring midfielder then had a shot from inside the six-yard-box pushed wide by Martin after fantastic build-up play.

With the game coming to a close, Sleaford defender Ward was denied by his namesake on the Gresley team. Directing his header past Fenny into the top corner, substitute Connor Ward did well on the post to nod the ball out of danger and preserve the clean sheet.