Match Report  |  Deeping Rangers vs Gresley Rovers

Gresley Rovers cruised to their ninth consecutive away league victory after beating Deeping Rangers 3-0 at the Haydon Whitham Stadium.

Last dropping points in the league to today’s opponents, the win keeps the Rovers four points behind league leaders Long Eaton United with two games in hand - with the table toppers victorious against Newark.

First-half goals from James Harrison and Corey Bucalossi put the visitors in control at the break, with the pair beginning the last match from the bench.

Deeping came out with more intent in the second-half but struggled to seriously trouble Lewis Fenney, who kept his first clean sheet in three games, with the Moatmen scoring their third through a Ryan Seal penalty just before full-time.

Carrying confidence from their successful trip to Selston in midweek, it was Gresley who had the opening chance through Michael Williams, who took the armband on Saturday afternoon.

With Ryan Seal starting from the bench, Harrison took corner responsibility early on, chipping the ball onto the head of Williams who headed just over.

Scoring four in his last two games, Brennan had an opportunity to extend his scoring run with a couple of chances in quick succession. First lobbing Mason Frizelle’s long ball into the hands of Dan Swan, he then hooked a whipped cross from Harrison just wide of the near post.

Setting up two of the previous three chances, Harrison struck at goal himself and found the opening goal. A clever one-two between Corey Bucalossi and Williams opened space, with the former's threaded through ball smartly left by Brennan and slotted in by Harrison.

Dominating the proceedings, the Moatmen almost doubled their lead soon after breaking the deadlock. Bursting towards the back-post, George Clark had his effort saved by the ‘keeper before Brennan’s follow-up whistled wide.

Unable to get out of their third, Deeping conceded a second from the penalty spot. Picking the ball up inside the area, Bucalossi rolled the ball past an incoming challenge, with the outstretched leg of the defender catching the midfielder.

Demanding to take the penalty with little protestation, Bucalossi planted the ball on the spot before rolling it into the opposite corner to which the ‘keeper guessed.

Full of confidence, Bucalossi almost set up a third for the Rovers inside the first half-hour. Sliding the ball into the path of Kane Lee, the striker was denied by the fingertips of Swan, who got enough on the ball to force it out for a corner.

In the opposite goal, Lewis Fenney spent most of the half as a spectator but did well to stop the hosts from scoring against the run of play on the 31st minute. With the ball dropping loose in the box, an unmarked Sam Wilson had a chance to half the deficit from close range but saw his powerful strike blocked.

Having a shot saved earlier in the half, Clark had a second opportunity to get his name on the scoresheet just moments before a break. Causing a constant threat down the right, the full-back ran onto the end of a fantastic ball through by Niall Towle but saw his attempt from a tight angle saved.

Attacking opportunities at the start of the second-half were much more scarce, with Brennan and Bucalossi both failing to trouble the ‘keeper early on.

Still in the game just two behind, Deeping went searching for a goal that would get them a foothold in the game.

Both Frizelle and Towle put in important interceptions when the hosts looked likely to score, with Fenney also making an important save. From a corner, the ball bobbled around the six-yard box before being poked towards the goal, with the palm of the ‘keeper saving his side.

As the match was petering out, Gresley won their second penalty of the game. Two substitutes combined, with Seal’s dinked pass over the top of the defence finding Danny Munday, who was tripped from behind by two incoming defenders.

Reclaiming his role as penalty taker, Seal stepped up score the Moatmen’s third, slotting the ball into the right of the goal.