Match Report  |  Gresley Rovers vs AFC Mansfield

Rovers were within five minutes or so of claiming a much-deserved share of the points but were cruelly denied from a well worked short corner. Having fought themselves back from a two-goal deficit they were devastated to see the third goal go in scored by the prolific Ryan Ingram who completed his hat-trick and heads the top of the league scoring table with 13 league goals.

There was a new name on the team sheet for Rovers as loan keeper Jack Sandel made his debut in place of Charlie Wood who suffered a fractured ankle during the midweek game at Heanor. Also back was Finn Barker who has missed the last few games due to a fractured foot taking a place on the bench alongside Osaze Okuonghae who had been on holiday.

Rovers started well with Nathan Banton testing visiting keeper Josh Turton with a free kick from 22 yards which needed to be pushed over the bar. A cross from Banton was headed narrowly wide but the home side were caught cold when Ingram converted a cross from the right they were caught again two minutes later when Ingram scored his second to leave Rovers shell shocked.

Ingram was inches away from adding a third as the Bulls looked to put the game to bed with less than half the first half played but this time he missed his mark firing over the bar.

To Rovers’ credit they continued to fight back and on 22 minutes they were awarded a freekick on the edge of the area. Alby Lansdowne took the kick firing an unstoppable shot low into the bottom corner with Turton helpless.

Rovers were pressing hard but needed to defend well as the Bulls looked dangerous on the break, but they were rewarded for their endeavours when Jamie Sleigh ran on to a great through ball before slotting it past Turton.

As the end of first half drew to a close mayhem broke out. Danny Munday had been poorly tackled by McKenna Parton and reacted as he lay on the floor. It appeared that Parton had caught Munday as he went over him. The referee Adam Crosby-Smith showed Munday a straight red card and Parton a yellow. The crowd on the touchline nearest the incident were not impressed booing the Bulls player as he got off the ground, However, those boos turned to cheers as, after having a word with his assistant, changed the yellow to a red card. Along with Parton Bulls manager Phil Buxton was also shown a red card.

At the beginning of the second half, the visitors made the first of their changes with Jack Gibb replacing Harley Bates.

Rovers had the first chance, but Lansdowne fired his shot straight at Turton. The visitors were still looking dangerous non more than Ingram who should have scored his and Mansfield’s third but he somehow managed to clear the bar from very close in from a good cross by Kaylum Mitchell.

On 59 minutes Rovers went agonisingly close to taking the lead when Lansdowne smashed a shot which was heading into the net until it took a deflection to put the effort wide.

More changes for both sides for Rovers Okunoghae and Barker for Alex Britton and Jake Meakin and for the Bulls Jordan Sowerby for Jake Batty.

Rovers were pressing sensing that the visitors may have been running out of ideas and Sleigh went close after a quick break fizzing a shot across the face of goal and wide of the far post.

Dylan Hunniford threaded a fine ball to Barker who ran forward before putting his shot from the right narrowly wide.

There were more changes with 12 minutes remaining for both sides with Seb Owen replacing Nathan Banton for Rovers and Jon D’Laryea for Mitchell for the visitors. Minutes having come on Owen hit a shot straight at the keeper while down at the other end Sandel made a terrific save denying Ingram a goal diving to his left.

Five minutes were remaining on the clock when Rovers were dealt a devastating blow. A well worked short corner saw a low ball played into the area and Ingram managed to poke the ball home from close in.

It was so hard on Rovers as they had fought themselves back and deserved to take a share of the points but it wasn’t to be and now they have to pick themselves up as they have a quick opportunity to claim the first win and those elusive three points when Hucknall Town visit the Moat Ground on Tuesday evening.