Hinckley United vs Gresley Rovers
Gresley Reserves could only draw at Hinckley United despite dominating the game for long periods.
Missing key defenders, Ryan Yearsley played at centre half for the 1st time in his career and barely put a foot wrong. Another forward, captain Mick Sandar also continued his run at full back.
Gresley started off on the front foot and had the Hinckley defence stretched as they probed for an early opening.
The best opening of the early exchanges saw Earl Alexander's effort tipped over the bar by Flindern in the Hinckley goal. Carl Timms had a headed effort that was tipped over and Jon Jenkinson fired over when well placed.
Gareth Burgess put Jenkinson through on goal on 34 minutes but his shot was straight at the keeper when perhaps he should have done better.
Gresley took a deserved lead on 52 minutes when Carl Slater shot home from fully 35 yards giving Flindern no chance.
Gareth Burgess almost doubled the lead after robbing a defender but his shot hit the inside of the post and his second effort from the rebound just went wide of the left hand post.
Earl Alexander beat several men on the left and cut in from the byline and should have done better with his final ball with 3 men unmarked in the box. Carl Slater hit another long range effort, this time against the post and the rebound found Jenkinson but it came at him too quick to control his effort to be on target.
Hinckley equalised on 76 minutes when Hamilton found space on the edge of the box and he drove home past Ian Roberts in the Rovers goal.
An unfortunate mix up in the Rovers defence between Yearsley and Roberts led to Hinckley’s second goal on 79 minutes.
Rovers, in a game they dominated found themselves 2-1 down and to their credit pushed immediately for an equaliser. It came in fortunate circumstances when the referee pointed to the spot after Nathan Tate was pulled back in the box but the offence clearly started outside the box.
The impressive Carl Slater buried the resultant penalty. Rovers pushed for the winner with efforts from Matt Moran, Danny Tyres and Nathan Tate all going close.
Final Score:
Hinckley United Reserves 2
Gresley Rovers Reserves 2
1. Ian Roberts
2. Mickey Sandar (c)
3. Nathan Tate
4. Dave Roberts
5. Ryan Yearsley
6. Carl Timms
7. Matt Moran
8. Carl Slater (2)
9. Gareth Burgess
10. John Jenkinson
11. Earl Alexander
12. Mykey Pryce
14. Greg Smith
15. Danny Tyres
