Match Report  |  Gresley Rovers vs Melton Town

Alfie Burley

Alby Lansdowne’s spectacular overhead kick sealed all three points as Rovers edged a seven-goal thriller against Melton Town.

The Moatmen had to stave off a fight-back from the away side, having led 3-0 in the first half, but did eventually walk away with victory thanks to Lansdowne’s acrobatic effort.

Goals from Daniel Munday, Steve Hart and Ryan Seal had seen Gresley race into a three-goal lead but a handball in the box gave the visitors a route back into the game.

Rovers started quickly, and brightly - quite a contrast to the murky and boggy conditions. Gresley certainly adapted to the pitch faster than their opponents, and it saw them take an early lead.

With just three minutes on the clock, Ryan Seal came to within inches of scoring, only to see Bill Harrison’s fingertips push his header onto the crossbar. Yet, as he always is, Munday was in the right position to profit, and nod the loose ball into an empty net.

Gresley smelled blood, and they continued to push at a Melton backline that couldn’t cope with the pressure. With just under 15 minutes on the clock, Rovers had a spot-kick, as the referee confidently pointed to the spot after adjudging that Seal’s pass through the middle had been handled by the Melton defender.

Seal stepped up, and sent Harrison the wrong way, doubling the Moatmen’s lead.

The visitors were finding it impossible to find their footing, and the chances kept coming for Rovers. Hart forced Harrison into a low save as his shot on the turn threatened to creep in at the near post.

Munday also should’ve done better when a free-kick from the right found him completely unmarked in the box, but his header was straight into the palms of Harrison.

In the 41st minute, Gresley found a deserved third to mark their dominance. A cheap giveaway by Owen Storey allowed Seal, Lee and Hart to link-up, with Hart finishing off the move with a low finish under the body of the ‘keeper.

Despite all of Gresley’s superiority in the first half, Melton were given hope in the dying moments of the half.

The referee showed little hesitation in pointing to the spot after a shot from the edge of the box was adjudged to have been blocked by the hand of Mason Frizelle. Ryan Robbins grabbed the ball and managed to squeeze his effort past the outstretched hand of Lewis Fenney.

Having gained confidence from the goal, Melton came out the blocks in the second half firing on all cylinders, and they should’ve made it 3-2 when Zak Munton was presented with the whole goal to aim at but skied his effort when teed up by Paul Anderson.

In the 59th minute, however, Melton would pull to within one goal of Rovers. This time Munton was the provider as he pounced on a poor ball by Josh Craddock, before feeding Robbins who tucked the ball past Fenney.

Gresley were now well and truly in danger of losing the three points and tried doggedly to wrestle back control.

Munday showed signs of this as he was sent through by an intelligent ball from Lansdowne but chipped his effort wide.

Lansdowne, on as a second-half substitute, would produce the moment of the match minutes later. After a corner had fallen into the path of Morris, the central defender’s effort was deflected up into the air, and Lansdowne obliged, acrobatically sending the ball into the top corner with an outstanding overhead kick.

Melton were not done though. Fenney had just been forced to tip Sam Wilson’s header behind for a corner, when the resulting set piece fell at the feet of Henry Dunn who smashed home from close-range.

Now, it was a question of hanging on for Gresley, but despite the best efforts of Melton, the Moatmen were never truly threatened in the final moments holding on for a thrilling, and vital victory.