Northern Premier League Midlands
The Moat Ground
Saturday, 18th February 2023, 3.00pm
Rovers Hit The Cuckoos For Four
Report by Kieran Leary
Gresley started of the half in very quick fashion with two goals coming in the first six minutes after Danny Munday and Jonathon Letford both produced two great finishes.
Yaxley really struggled to create any clear cut chances in the first half to trouble Lewis Fenney in the Gresley goal.
Gresley were then awarded a penalty on the stroke of half time which allowed James Spruce to step up to spot and give Gresley a three goal advantage going into the second half.
The second half was very comfortable for Gresley both going forward and defensively as they were able to create a few good chances and stopped the away side from getting back in the game by limiting to very few half chances in the game.
James spruce was able to put the cherry on top and make it four for Gresley in the closing stages of the game.
Yaxley started off the game well with a chance in the opening minutes but Lewis Fenney was alive to the situation.
The opening goal of the game came in the third minute as Danny Munday opens the scoring for the day for Gresley with a very cool finish.
Minutes later Jonathon Letford doubled the lead for Gresley after battling with the defender and slotting it passed the keeper into the bottom corner.
Yaxley did well to settle back into the game after the two early goals conceded and created a few half chances but nothing to really trouble Fenney in the Gresley goal.
A few good chances for Gresley mid-way through the first half but nothing dangerous enough to trouble the keeper in the Yaxley goal.
James Spruce had a free kick in a great position on the half an hour mark bit it was blazed over the bar.
Gresley had shouts for a penalty just before half time after Spruce was brought down in the box but the referee waved play on.
Gresley were eventually awarded one as Shaq Leachman - Whittingham was brought down in the box after skinning the defender. Spruce was able to step up and calmly convert the penalty after sending the keeper the wrong way from the spot to increase Gresley’s advantage.
Gresley managed to see out and control the first half quite comfortably without giving many clear cut chances away and created a few more of their own.
Second half carried on just like the majority of the first with Gresley very comfortable on the ball and starting to create a few half chances.
A great strike from Lewis Belgrave was well saved by Kacper Kurylowicz in the 60th minute to keep the advantage at just three for Gresley.
Another shot from range for Gresley just moments after and this time it was from Alby Lansdowne but was again comfortably saved.
A first real chance for Yaxley came in the 69th minute as Luke Hunnings' effort went just over the bar.
Another great chance for Gresley came in the 74th minute as Kane Lee’s ball across goal was met by Izak Reid who’s shot was cleared off the line by the defender.
Spruce grabbed his second of the game in the 90th minute after latching onto rebound after the keeper made a good save.
This completed a very comfortable victory for Gresley.
Manager's View
Luke Nurden
Carl Abbott prevailed glee over his side’s victory against Yaxley town in dominant fashion in a must-win match for the Moatmen.
“It was a win we needed, it was a win we felt we could get and now we move onto the next one,” said Abbott.
“Three points, a plus four goal margin for us is going to be important, it’s just another one of the games we have left now and it’s looking like another good day for us looking elsewhere in the table.
“So we move onto the next one, we’ve not settled anything but we’ve commanded a game of football that we should command because they’re struggling.
“But teams have laboured who took victories against them but we didn’t do that ourselves, it was comprehensive goals in open play and we created lots of chances, a good afternoon.”
With an assertive performance over Yaxley, a rise in morale in the squad should prove crucial with an important stretch of games incoming for Gresley.
Abbott said: “In recent months we haven’t lost down here in a long time so we’re always confident with the games at home against anybody.
“There hasn’t been a shortage of confidence.
“Mentally we’re strong.
“We understand that the story for the rest of the season is going to be some wins, some losses and some draws and that’s the way it’s going to be and trying to get as much momentum as we can.
“But we’re not going to change the trajectory of a season just overnight because you say you’re going to do it.
“It’s hard to swim team wins together in this league when you’re in the situation we’re in, so the lads aren’t riding the emotion of it too much.”
Paul Tomlinson shared his praise to Albert Lansdowne, after hitting an incredible milestone of 200 appearances away to Cambridge City.
A Player of the Match performance has topped off an outstanding week for the midfielder.
Tomlinson said: “That was a man of the match performance, it wasn’t just given to him because he made 200 appearances.
“I’ve just said to him in the last three seasons we’ve been here, he has trajected as a footballer.
“He’s improved so much since we’ve been here.
“He’s the best player on the pitch in midfield, he’s the best player on the pitch when he goes into centre-half, the lad can do a lot of things.
“I’m really pleased for him because he’s a really lovely and humble man.
“200 appearances for his local team, since he’s been playing here since 18 years of age, that is some achievement and the lad gives you everything and it’s very rare his standards drop.”
