Match Report  |  Gresley Rovers vs Shirebrook Town

Rovers won their second game of the league season at the Moat Ground on a beautiful afternoon and in front of a decent crowd, but they were made to work for it.

Carl Abbott had a few of his missing players back which was good to see and hopefully it will now enable him to field a regular side which he hasn’t been able to do so far until today. He was still missing Louis Anthony who has ended his concussion protocol, Danny Munday finishing his suspension for his sending off and Fin Barker still recovering from his fractured foot.

Unfortunately, Jordi Gough was recalled by Quorn and Osaze Okuonghae has decided to step away from senior football to concentrate on his education. However, it was good to see Ryan King back on the field after a prolonged spell of serious injury.

Rovers started well with Harrison Solomon picking out Jude Collins who went close with his shot. Town were not to be out done with Jake Bradford firing over from the left.

The home side almost took the lead after just 23 minutes when the visiting keeper Rio Alberry managed to get the toe of his outstretched leg to prevent the ball from finding the back of the net.

Down at the other end Rovers’ keeper needed to be on his toes pushing away and effort from Shirebrook for a corner.

Rovers went agonisingly close again on 26 minutes when Kane Lee’s touch from Collins’ corner hit the bar, but two minutes later they went one step better when King crashed home his goal from close in.

It was no more than Rovers deserved having the majority of the possession. Another chance came on 31 minutes when a great run through the middle finished with Alby Lansdowne finding Lee who was denied a goal with a deflection that took the ball over the bar.

Against the run of play Shirebrook almost went to the break level with a good shot which skimmed the bar, but Rovers finished the half on top.

The visitors made two changes for the second half with Harvey Wigglesworth and Hakim Johnson replacing Carlinhos Da Costa and Kieran Sykes Tobin. Rovers also made a change with Jake Meakin coming on for the injured Will Robinson.

Rovers had a big let off almost from the second half starting when Sturgess unfortunately slipped in possession just outside their area and Fabio Vieira took advantage but somehow managed to fire his shot wide of the far post with just home keeper Jack Sandel to beat.

Lee was inches from adding to his side’s tally with his shot from the right striking the near post while at the other end Shirebrook also hit the woodwork as John Lowe went close to getting back on terms.

Almost on the hour mark there was another change for Rovers with King being replaced by Ste Hart with both getting a great reception. The home side needed another goal to help relieve the pressure they were under as Shirebrook were having a much better half, but although they went close through a Lansdowne header and a Meakin shot both straight at the keeper.

A quick break from Rovers saw Jamie Sleigh’s shot deflected from the goal net by the merest of touches from Alberry. Sleigh was unlucky again just moments later when he took advantage of some dithering in the visiting defence but after beating the keeper he saw his shot fly past the far post from a tight angle.

Nathan Banton replaced the hardworking Collins and continued the fine work down the left wing giving the defence problems, but it was a ball from the right which got Rovers the goal they’d been looking for, Solomon put an inviting ball into the area and Lansdowne was on hand to smash the ball home.

Rovers made their final change with Seb Owen replacing Jamie Sleigh. Hart was finding some great passes, but he almost grabbed a goal for himself on 87 minutes, but his absolute thumping shot crashed against the underside of the bar and away to safety leaving bar shaking for several seconds.

Hart turned provider in the dying minutes of the game proving the perfect pass for Meakin to fire home. However, almost straight from the kick off Rovers were caught napping when a quick break through the middle allowed Lowe to at least score a consolation goal but it was too little and too late as the referee ended what had been one of the fairest and cleanest seen at the Moat for some time with just 6 free kicks conceded in total.