Gresley FC vs Walsall Wood
Gresley Reserves last night moved into top spot of The Midland League Reserve Division for the first time with a 4-1 win against Walsall Wood Reserves.
Ryan Clemson returned to the starting line-up alongside James Hemingway, Zak Hill and Josh Dutton did likewise in midfield and upfront.
After a lively start to the game, Walsall Wood took the lead after four minutes, when a free kick from just outside was tipped onto the bar by Max Atkin and Wood top scorer Romano Graham was on hand to bundle the rebound home into the unguarded net.
Gresley were soon level despite the early setback when a free kick of their own from Zaki Evans, wide on the left wing was headed past the keeper powerfully by Harry Lansdowne.
In a tight game both sides battled hard but after the frantic start, both restricted each other to half chances for the rest of the first half.
As the second half began Gresley seemed to gain the momentum straight away, Dutton weaved past his marker on the right wing and produced a fine deep cross where Hammerton stretched to head it back across the keeper but the ball went just past the post.
In the 54th minute an almost carbon copy move involving Dutton and Hammerton again, gave Gresley the lead when Hammerton's header this time powered past the Wood keeper.
The game was settled in the 79th minute when sub Ryan King cleverly hooked the ball over to Dutton in the right hand channel, and this time his cross found Zaki Evans and the play-makers looping header back across the goal found the top corner, leaving the keeper helpless.
Dutton had a chance to get himself in the scoresheet when he was released by a through ball but the Wood keeper blocked on the edge of the box. Gresley's and the divisions top scorer wasn't to be denied though, when in the 91st minute he volleyed into the far corner from an acute angle inside the box.
Goals: Lansdowne 7, Hammerton 54, Evans 79, Dutton 91
1. Max Atkin
2. Harry Hughes
3. Callum Porter
4. Luke Clamp (C)
5. James Hemingway
6. Ryan Clemson
7. Zachary Hill
8. Zakim Evans
9. Sam Hammerton
10. Josh Dutton
11. Harry Lansdowne
Subs:
12. Brad Payne (for 7 - 72 mins)
14. Ryan King (for 9 - 78 mins)
15. Kane Lee (not used)
16. Aaron Harvey (not used)
17. Connor Ward (for 11 - 82 mins)
