United Counties Premier Division North
The Moat Ground
Saturday, 9th April 2022, 3.00pm
Rovers Have To Settle For A Point
Harry Tizard
Gresley Rovers surrendered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Heanor Town at the Moat Ground on Saturday afternoon.
Gaining a comfortable advantage thanks to an early strike from Kane Lee and a penalty from Ryan Seal, the Moatmen saw their winning margin halved when Kyle Daley found the top corner with what was virtually the last kick of the first-half.
Probing for a leveller, the visitors found the equaliser just past the hour through the man that scored their first, with a Daley header at the far post looping over Lewis Fenney.
With Long Eaton victorious over bottom of the league Holbeach United, the Moatmen now sit four points behind the league leaders with a game in hand.
Battling their way back into the game, the league’s 12th placed side showed early signs of encouragement with the first few chances of the game.
Bursting down the left-wing, Jamie Sleigh’s scuffed cross-come-shot almost caught out Fenney at the near post, with the Gresley keeper pushing the ball wide.
The resulting corner also caused problems, with the captain finding space in the box, but his volley sailed over the bar.
Failing to take the lead, it was the Rovers who opened the scoring soon after. A cute through ball from Niall Towle found the onrushing Lee, with the forward accurately driving the ball across goal and into the bottom corner.
Falling behind, Heanor went searching for an immediate equaliser.
Sleigh first saw header at the near post fly well over, with a wicked shot from Daley and a bobbling yet precise effort from Kieran Debrouwer both palmed away by Fenney.
In a similar fashion to what had happened before, a multitude of missed opportunities from the away side were pounced on by the hosts, with Seal doubling the Gresley lead.
A missed clearance from Jake Carlisle allowed Shay Brennan to gain possession in the box, with the in-form striker rounding the ‘keeper before being barged over by an incoming defender.
Scoring from the spot against Deeping Rangers, Seal found the next from 12-yards once again, slamming the ball past Rio Alberry, who dove the right way but couldn’t keep it out.
Looking to continue his good scoring form, having scored three braces in his last four games, the man who won the penalty then went for goal himself, but struck well over from the left of the box.
In control after scoring a second, Gresley conceded a goal on the brink of half-time to let Heanor back into the contest.
Unable to deal with the ball inside their six-yard box, Michael Williams could only find Daley with his ball out, with the Heanor man curling the ball into the top corner past Fenney from close range.
Surviving early pressure in the second-half, Heanor came close to capitalising on another mistake in the Gresley back line.
A poor header back to the ‘keeper was latched onto by Sleigh, with his shot across goal rolling inches away from the inside of the far post.
Five minutes later, the Rovers had an opportunity to extend their goal advantage but were denied by a fine save.
A smartly weighted clipped ball into the box by Seal found the head of Brennan, but the striker's attempt was pushed away by an agile Alberry.
Max Thornberry’s ambitious lob was then saved by a backtracking Fenney before Heanor scored their second of the afternoon.
Launched into the box from the right-wing, Daley climbed well to nod a header towards the far post, finding the corner of the net and leaving Fenney in a heap as he attempted to save it.
With the game level for the first time since the fifth minute, it was the hosts who then went close to pulling the scoreline back in their favour.
Substitute James Harrison saw his deflected effort at the near post-crash against the side netting before Brennan had his best chance of the match.
Crossed into the area, a flicked-on ball reached the head of the forward 8-yards out, but he could only direct his effort over the bar.
Alex Morris then met a corner in stoppage time, but the centre-back couldn’t find the net, with the ball being hacked away by Carlisle.
The draw extends Gresley’s unbeaten run in the league to 30 matches, having lost on the opening day of the season to Heanor.
