Match Report  |  Selston vs Gresley Rovers

Gresley Rovers battled the snow to beat Selston on Wednesday night, winning 3-1 at Parish Hall to close the points gap on league leaders Long Eaton United to four points.

Taking an early lead thanks to a smart header from Jake Cooper, the hosts were quickly pegged back thanks to a goal from Shay Brennan, who was quickest to react to Alex Morris’ parried shot.

Hoping to recreate Saturday’s heroics, where the team placed one position off the drop earned a draw against the table-topping Blues’, their dreams were crushed by Alex Morris, who headed in past Joe Fryatt just before half-time.

Turning the score in the Moatmen’s favour, the away side dominated the second-half without scoring a fatal third until the 84th minute, where a second from Brennan secured Gresley’s victory.

Securing a brace for the second consecutive game, the former Aylestone Park man would have given the Rovers an early need if not for a brilliant save from Fryatt.

Nodded on by Kane Lee, Brennan’s snapshot volley from close range was flicked over well by the ex-Gresley man.
The striker then saw a header saved with ease before a tricky low strike from the edge was dealt with smartly by Fryatt before Selston took the lead.

Conceding a free-kick on the edge of the area, the whipped ball in from the left found the head of Cooper, who guided his effort into the top corner past Lewis Fenney.

Despite falling behind, heads refused to drop in the away dugout, with Gresley continuing to control everything but the scoreline.

Ryan Seal went searching for his first goal since the middle of January when he went slaloming past a defender, seeing his deflected shot flash wide before Brennan netted for the first time in the evening.

Unable to hold Morris’ strike across goal, Brennan jumped onto Fryatt’s save, pouncing unmarked at the back post.

Then, moments before the break, the centre-back involved in the previous goal turned the score in the Moatmen’s favour.
Rising highest to meet Alby Lansdowne’s throw-in, Morris lifted his effort over Fraytt, whose outstretched arm was not enough to stop the defender’s header.

The restart didn’t change the flow of the game, with the Rovers pushing for a third.
First, it was George Clark who challenged the ‘keeper, darting onto Kane Lee’s ball across the box before powering his attempt straight at Fryatt.

Then, it was the turn of Brennan. Rushing towards the back post to meet substitute James Harrison’s pinpoint cross, the forward could only direct his header over.

Louis Briscoe, who was brought on at the same time as Harrison, then had two opportunities to score. Having a shot from a narrow-angle blocked, the man coming off the bench had an even better chance from the resulting corner.

Jumping on the opportunity to shoot after Harrison scuffed his attempt, the striker saw his deflected shot arrow just past the post.

Probing for a third, Brennan secured Gresley’s eighth consecutive away win with an impressive pass and header. Spaying the ball into the path of Harrison, the striker sprinted into the box to complete the one-two, heading past a wrong-footed Fryatt.

The Moatmen are now four points behind Long Eaton with two games in hand, as well as six points in front of third-placed Ansty Nomads.