Match Report  |  Chasetown vs Gresley Rovers

This was a miserable evening all round. Miserable weather, miserable result for Rovers and a miserable first half Rovers performance. Admittedly, they were much better in the second half but by then the damage was done.

The hope of any vital point or points were wiped out in the first five minutes and the damage complete with a farcical goal on the stroke of half time.

Rovers went into this game without several players, Kane Lee who was away on holiday, Alby Lansdowne due to a family reason, Michael Williams suspended, Lewis Belgrave personal reasons and Tyler Donaldson working so against a side who are trying to push for a play-off place the job was going to be extremely tough.

The visitors were in need of something from this game as they are looking over their shoulders at three sides hoping to climb out of the relegation and bottom play-off places.

The home side came out of the blocks quickly determined to put Rovers on the back foot early and their pressure paid off when they took the lead on just 8 minutes. A pass was threaded through to Aaron Ashford on the edge of the area who then evaded a couple defenders before hitting a low shot from the right which beat visiting keeper Lewis Fenney and found the bottom left corner of the net.

Six minutes later the Scholars doubled their advantage. This time Ashford turned provider by sending a high ball into the Rovers’ box missed by one player but not by Jack Langston who took his chance to score.

Rovers did rally a little but found it difficult to find the back of the net as Chasetown defended resolutely. Danny Munday got on the end of a free kick and was unlucky to see his low shot hit the base of the far post with keeper Curtis Pond rooted to the spot.

With the first half almost up, Rovers were the authors of their demise as Chasetown added a third in some what bizarre circumstances. A mix-up over on the left ended with the ball being picked up in midfield by former Moat favourite Langford who, seeing Fenney still way out of his goal, launched the ball goalwards and although it looked to be heading wide it curled in and went into the net courtesy of the left post.

Whatever was said in the visitors’ dressing room at the break they came out far more determined to try and get into the game and Munday tried his best with a shot which flew over the bar in the first few seconds of the half. James Spruce made a good run into the area but again the end product flew over the bar.

Chasetown made two changes with Jordan Evans replacing Ryan Shaw and Ben Lund for Danny O’Callaghan with Rovers also making two changes with Keiron Berry replacing Spruce and James Harrison for Dylan Hunniford.

The introduction of the Rovers’ substitutions game them renewed impetus and both were soon threatening the home defence but still that elusive goal did not arrive.

Chasetown made their final change with Joseph Morley replacing Luke Yates and they had two chances to add a fourth goal.

A cross into Rovers’ box from Alex Melbourne ended up pinging around the area but amazingly Rovers managed to clear before any Chasetown player could finish and this was followed moments later with a free kick from the edge of the area taken by Langston having to be pushed away by Fenney from underneath his bar but it was Rovers who had the final clear chance of the game when Berry sent over a ball to the back post but the diving Alex Morris’s header went inches wide.