Northern Premier League Midlands
The Moat Ground
Saturday, 28th January 2023, 3.00pm
Points Shared
No-one can argue that the result was a fair one in this proverbial game of two halves. Gresley were cruising in the first half taking a two-goal league through Izak Reid and the unfortunate own goal from Hinckley’s Jordan Burrows before Liam Read got his side back in the game on the stroke of halftime.
Hinckley dominated the second half but could not force a winner. Indeed, Gresley could have stolen all three points after a quick move down the right ended with Kane Lee firing a low shot a whisker the wrong side of the far post.
Rovers took the lead on 13 minutes when Reid was on hand to force the ball home from close in following James Spruce’s corner form the right.
They doubled their lead just eight minutes later. Alby Lansdowne’s long throw in into the Hinckley area was flicked on by Hinckley’s Burrows trying to clear the ball, but his effort looped over his goalkeeper and into the net.
It was no more that Rovers deserved as the were on top for long periods and they almost added a third just after the half hour mark. A cross from the right by Michael Williams was met by Reid but his header at the far post went the wrong side of the upright.
Just as the first half was drawing to a close Hinckley got back into the game when Liam Read cut in from the left and into the area before hitting a shot past defenders and keeper and into the far corner of the net.
The second half belonged largely to the visitors as they put Rovers under long periods of pressure especially from Lewis Jones down the left and he was to assist in his side levelling the scores when his cross from the left was fired home by Read for his second goal of the game.
Both sides made changes with Ryan King replacing Kieran Berry and Akanni Akinwe replacing Reid for his debut.
King went close to giving Rovers the lead when he managed to get the ball from Spruce just inside the area and, with the visiting keeper off his line, tried a lob which landed on the top of the net.
Despite Hinckley pressing they were not really making any clear-cut chances. Indeed, it was Rovers who could have claimed all three points at the end with Lee having a couple of chances. The first on 88 minutes with a shot which sailed over the bar and deep in time added on ending a very good, quick break down the right but curling his shot inches the wrong side of the far post with the keeper beaten.
