Match Report  |  Gresley Rovers vs Selston

Harry Tizard

Goals from James Harrison and Danny Munday helped Gresley Rovers to a 2-0 victory against Selston at the Moat Ground.

The former opened the scoring from close range inside the first 10 minutes to give the Moatmen an early lead before a vicious second-half strike from Munday put the game beyond the visitors.

Ben Moore could have started what would have been an unlikely comeback soon after Selston conceded a second but saw his penalty saved by Lewis Fenney.

There are 13 teams between Gresley and Selston in the league table, with the hosts having the first chance of the game.
Cleared to the feet of Ryan Seal after Alby Lansdowne’s thrown-in caused havoc in the Selston box, his shot from the edge of the box was tipped round the post by Joe Fryatt.

However, the former Gresley shot-stopper couldn’t keep his side level for much longer, with the hosts taking the lead from the resulting corner.

Whipped into the box by Seal, Lansdowne’s header across the box found the feet of Harrison, who tapped into an empty net from just a yard out.

Involved in the opening goal of the game, Seal could have extended the Moatmen’s lead just before the half-hour mark.

Playing in Kane Lee down the left wing, the forward scooped the ball past an incoming defender before returning the ball to the captain. Sprinting into the middle of the 18-yard-box, Seal’s blazed his unchallenged strike well over the bar.

Despite Selston showing promise, the team placed just outside the relegation zone struggled to create attacking opportunities for most of the first-half, with Fryatt keeping them in the match.

Curled into the box by Harrison, Munday was denied twice in quick succession by the ‘keeper. Tipping Munday’s original effort onto the post, his second save was even better, pushing the striker's point-blank strike away from danger.

Fryatt’s antics in goal almost lead to an immediate equaliser, with Fenney called into action for the first time just before the break.

Getting free of his man on the by-line, Jordan Black’s pullback reached an onrushing Moore. Driving his shot low across goal, Fenney got down well to parry the shot, with the rebound blocked by Lansdowne and cleared away from danger.

Going close to scoring just before half-time, Selston conceded just minutes after the restart. Winning the ball high up the field, George Clark fed the ball through to Seal on the outskirts of the area who flicked it to the feet of Munday.

Bearing down on goal, Munday rifled the ball against the underside of the crossbar and into the net, leaving Fryatt with no chance.

Having control of the game and the scoreline with a two-goal advantage, Gresley almost gifted Selston a way back into the game.

Conceding a penalty almost immediately after scoring after Black was adjudged to have been brought down in the area, it was the job of Moore to halve the deficit.

Stepping over the spot-kick, Moore was outwitted by Fenney, who dove right to stop his powerful drive.

Seal was then inches away from adding a third for Gresley soon after the penalty miss, winning the ball high up the pitch, but his curling shot bounced just wide.

The captain then turned provider with an inch-perfect free-kick, but Frizelle’s free header flew over the bar.

Taylor Conway then saw his attempt palmed round the post by Fenney before Lee had a chance to put the game beyond the visitors. Outpacing three Selston defenders, Lee entered the box before placing his shot wide of the goal.