Match Report  |  Gresley Rovers vs Skegness Town

On a blustery but sunny afternoon at the Moat Ground, Rovers produced easily their best performance for at least a couple of seasons and the atmosphere around the when the final whistle sounded was in stark contrast to their last home game of stony silence with applause and cheers from much of the 374-crowd lasting well after the teams had left the field.

Supporters were leaving with smiles on their faces not seen since before Christmas and positive remarks heard from almost everyone.
Another rarity was that Rovers fielded the same starting eleven who were withing a minute or so from grabbing all unlikely three points at title hunting Bourne last week.

There were a couple of changes on the bench with Jacob Sturgess replacing Oliver Potts and a welcome return for the Moat favourite Kane Lee who replaced Jude Ayetane.

The start was not the best for Rovers as they were caught out going behind with just three minutes on the clock. A ball into their area was not cleared and Arun Jones capitalised smashing the ball home from close in.

In previous games going behind so early would have set Rovers back but with the confidence of a couple of good results they hit back almost immediately. Two minutes later Fin Barker made a fine run down the left before finding Jack Thatcher over on the right who picked his spot beating visiting keeper Matt Clifford with the noise from the crowd ramping up in relief.

Rovers had a let off on 13 minutes when a free kick by Jones picked out Matt Baker who powerfully headed the ball down into the pitch from the edge of the box, but the resulting bounce took it over the bar.

The action turned to the other end and a free kick saw Clifford fumble the ball and it fell to Thatcher who chipped the ball back and was unlucky to see his effort land on the roof of the net.
Rovers were having the better of the game now and took full advantage by taking the lead on 22 minutes. A cross was sent into Town’s area and Max Jemson did well to steer the ball past Clifford and into the net.

A minute later it got even better for Rovers when they added a third goal when Jenson Cooper forced himself into the box and finished with a powerful shot beating Clifford.

Barker was agonisingly close to adding another goal. He cut into the area and hit a great curling shot which looked for all the world to be heading into the back of the net but somehow Clifford managed to pull of a spectacular save pushing the ball around his post for a corner.

For the start of the second half the visitors made a couple of changes with Daniel Brooks and Ollie Houlston replacing Matt Baker and Luke Rayner-Mistry respectively and for the first 15 minutes they had a good spell putting Rovers under pressure. However, Rovers held fast and soaked it up.

On the hour mark Rovers carved out their first chance of note in the second half with Mitchell White firing a low shot but straight at Clifford. Lee made his entrance to great acclaim replacing Thatcher on 61 minutes and he was soon testing the visiting defence.

Charlie Ward was just an inch or so from reducing the arrears for Town with a powerfully struck dipping shot from distance which came back off the bar but it was still Rovers who looked the most likely to grab another goal.

Cooper, having another fine game, worked hard just outside the area to get the ball to Sam Moore who ran forward and looked to have added another goal, but the outstretched leg of Clifford blocked the shot.

The fourth goal came on 68 minutes. A good move saw Dylan Hunniford find Lee who in turn picked out Cooper who made no mistake with his shot.

Rovers added the fifth goal on 71 minutes. Another hardworking player, Barker, blocked an attempted clearance and the ball fell just perfectly for the young forward to run onto before hitting a curling shot which beat the keeper and two defenders on the line desperately trying to keep the ball out of their net.

The final 15 minutes belonged to Rovers with Town looking well beaten and could have conceded another when Moore made a run down the left, cut into the area and fired a vicious shot which the keeper managed to tip over the bar.

The noise when the referee concluded the contest was thunderous and well deserved by the players who had given their all for the cause.

With Kimberley beaten the league positions are reversed again with Rovers leapfrogging their nearest relegation rivals and out of the bottom two.