Match Report  |  Gresley Rovers vs Stamford AFC

Alfie Burley

Gresley Rovers took another good stride towards safety after holding league leaders Stamford to a goalless draw at the Moat Ground.

Opportunities were at a premium in a scrappy affair with Jonathan Margetts’ volley in the second half the closest the away side came to victory.

Gresley meanwhile had a header cleared off the line in first half injury time in their most promising attack.

Rovers started the game brightly against the league leaders, with James Spruce sending a shot into the side netting, whilst Dominic Perkins had a piledriver held by Daniel Wallis.

It was a half of few chances in truth, with Stamford struggling to get to grips with the unique playing surface of the Moat Ground.

The Lincolnshire side did have a half-chance when Cameron Johnson blazed over before Jonathan Margetts was stopped in his tracks by a superb recovering challenge from Mason Frizelle.

Margetts was then in the thick of the action again when he attempted to touch Jack Duffy’s shot past Lewis Fenney, but he couldn’t get a good enough connection on the ball.

It was Rovers who ended the half the better though as James Spruce came inches away from converting Shaquille Leachman-Whittingham’s centre.

From the resultant throw, Alex Morris flicked a header goalwards which was headed off the line by a covering Stamford defender.

In the second half the away side started to exert some more pressure, and they forced Fenney into action when Margetts volleyed towards the bottom corner.

Jon Challinor was then played through down the right, but Alex Morris did well to block his shot.

Rovers nearly stole it in the latter stages when Jonathan Letford’s cross into the box was met by Danny Munday, but Wallis’ save was comfortable.

Neither side created enough to warrant winning the game however, with Gresley grateful to earn a surprise draw to ease relegation fears.