Match Report  |  Lye Town vs Gresley Rovers

This result left Rovers’ manager Marc Strzyzewski scratching his head and wondering how on earth did his side come away without even a point to show for their performance in which they dominated for large parts of the game.

It was the same for the travelling faithful who themselves had witnessed a good performance from their side but for no reward.

Lye Town were given a stern test and must be thankful for a fine display from their keeper, profligate finishing, the woodwork, and the benefit of some of the ‘interesting’ decisions from the officials.

Rovers started on the front foot and were soon pressing their hosts back and they could have or rather should have taken an early lead. A pass saw Jamie Sleigh spring the home back line leaving him one-on-one with the Flyers’ keeper Ben Hendry, but the final shot flew over the bar.

The visitors continued to push forward forcing a couple of corners and free kicks, but they went close on 27 minutes when Martin Smyth made a great run through the middle before unleashing a vicious shot that Hendry could only palm away.

The first attempt of note from the home side came on 28th minute when Matt Funge hit a low shot which was well saved by Rovers’ keeper Harvey Woodward at his near post.

A further spell of good football from Rovers saw a lay off from Jack Tyson to Kieran O’Connell who then hit a shot that fizzed past the upright.

Sleigh went close again five minutes before the break, but he saw his goal bound shot pushed onto the post by Hendry. Rovers had another chance as the first half came to an end with Chris Jones meeting Martin Smyth’s corner from the left, but his header went over the bar.

Town started well in the second half and a low shot from the left from new signing Lee Chilton flew across Woodward’s goal but there was no one to get on the end of it.

Rovers themselves saw a half chance go begging when a ball into Town’s box failed to find a visiting player who could fie it home. They then saw another header from a corner go agonisingly wide of the mark.

The home side took the lead just seconds later. A long ball over the Rovers’ backline and Chilton, on the left, raced forward and cooly fired the ball past the onrushing Woodward and into the far corner of the net.

Rovers hit back and almost snatched a goal when Jones got the end of a cross, but his head flew into the midriff of Hendry. Sleigh was threatening again and ran onto a through ball, but the keeper was off his line quickly to force the final shot wide of the far post.

The visitors were not giving up and forced several corners as they went looking for an equaliser and they went very close on 78 minutes when John King slipped the ball to Kane Lee who controlled the ball turned and hit a shot which looked almost certain to find the back of the net but a superb save from Hendry saw the diving keeper getting a touch on the ball to send it over the bar.

Smyth then saw Hendry deny yet another attempt on goal when the midfielder’s free kick from the left was once more tipped over the bar.

If the one goal was an unjust scoreline then the second made the score even more so. A run down the right by Nathan Kebeya ended with him cutting in near the bye line before hitting a low shot across the goal but the unfortunate Woodward, trying to make a save, could only help it into the net.