Match Report  |  Harborough Town vs Gresley Rovers

It was easy to see why Harborough are at the top of the table as they played some good flowing football and although they only had four shots on target, they cooly took their chances scoring with each one.

Not only sharp up front their defence, led by the former Moatman Alex Morris were hardly tested bar for a moment towards the end of the first half.

Rovers where without Chris Jones (injured), Richard Hanslow (illness) started brightly but found themselves behind after 13 minutes. A good move down the right saw Dan Cooper’s cross collected by Kai Tonge who saw the prolific Tendai Daire well placed and laid the ball back for him to smash the ball home.

Two minutes later the struggling Dylan Hunniford had to be replaced by Nathan Banton. Town continued to press Rovers back and another good move from the hosts ended with goal number four.

Rovers were robbed of the ball in midfield and Josh Walsh took advantage and raced forward before laying the ball off for Tonge who’s shot was well blocked. The ball bounced to Daire who then put the ball across the face of goal for Jordon Crawford to tap in at the far post.

On 38 minutes Rovers were forced into yet another change when Tolani Omotola, making his first start for Rovers, had to be replaced by John King. A few minutes earlier he had gone down with a suspected hamstring injury but tried to carry on only to pull up running after the ball.

With 8 minutes added on Town added a third goal when a long throw was lobbed over Louie Turner and into the far corner of the net by Connor Kennedy.

As the first half drew to an end, Rovers had their first and only attempt on goal. A scramble in the home six-yard box saw Daire head off the line, keeper Elliott Taylor then flap a goal bound header away before both Dan Cooper and Ben Williams made last ditch blocks to somehow keep the ball out of the net.

The home side made a change at the start of the second half with Dan Forbes replacing Cooper and two minutes later Town had added to their tally, and it was a goal from the training ground expertly executed.

A corner from the right was fired low into the area. The ball was stepped over which flatfooted the Rovers’ defence and rolled to Tonge who fired a low shot home past Turner.

To Rovers credit they were playing far better than in the first half but still couldn’t breach the solid Town defence and it was the home side who almost struck again but Turner made a fine diving save to deny Crawford his second of the game.

Rovers should have had a consolation goal from a corner but Jack Tyson seemed in two minds whether to head or kick the ball and in the end his shot went over the bar.

The final ten minutes or so got a little fractious with yellow cards flowing but Town had one more chance but was snuffed out by another fine save from Turner.