Romulus vs Gresley FC
Romulus 2 - 1 Gresley FC
Gresley Reserves travelled to the Romulus Academy for a rare Midland League Reverses Division fixture after spending much of the season so far playing Challenge Trophy Group fixtures.
On a small pitch in blustery conditions, this game lacked much quality but it was the home side that took the three points on offer.
The first half started with controversy as Gresley keeper Max Atkin's long free kick kicked up off the turf and despite the Romulus keeper clearly getting a hand to it pushing it onto the bar and over the line the referee and linesman disallowed the goal.
Both sides huffed and puffed in the first half was the only chances resulting in comfortable saves by the two keepers.
The second half started more open, with Gresley having another goal ruled out when Harry Lansdowne beat his full back on the left and swinging in a cross to Zaki Evans who flicked the ball into the far corner only to be ruled offside.
Romulus opened the scoring in the 60th minute when the they broke on the counter attack on their right side and put in the delicious cross where the 'Roms' striker flashed the ball past the helpless Atkin.
Gresley went close to equalising when Zaki Evans' deep free kick was met by Harry Hughes but he couldn't keep his header down from an acute angle.
The hosts doubled in the 75th minute, when the 'Roms' left winger beat Joe Bale cutting inside and beat the advancing Atkin at his near post.
Gresley halfed the deficit in the 79th minute, when Josh Dutton jinked inside the box and shot through a melee of legs and his shot found the bottom corner.
Gresley nearly claimed an unlikely point in injury time when the referee pointed to the spot for a push on James Hemmingway from a freekick, the resulting penalty from Josh Dutton was saved well by the home keeper who clung onto the ball and the three points.
All in all Gresley gave themselves too much to do and will have to learn from games like this. Next up is a return to Challenge Trophy action next Saturday when Walsall Wood come to The Moat Ground (K/O 3pm).
Gresley:
1. Max Atkin (C)
2. Joe Bale
3. Ryan Clemson
4. Zack Hill
5. James Hemmingway
6. Josh Garland
7. Harry Hughes
8. Zaki Evans
9. Kane Lee
10. Josh Dutton
11. Harry Lansdowne
Subs:
12. Alex Garner (Not Used)
14. Ryan Rutland-Jones (Used)
15. Callum Jenkins (Used)
16. Corrie Caswell (Used)
