Gresley FC vs AFC Wulfrunians
Gresley Youth 3 - 4 AFC Wulfrunians
Gresley Youth are still searching for their first league win, but played a full part in a highly entertaining match
which could have ended with both teams in double figures such was the attacking nature of the game, finally conceding defeat by the odd goal in seven when a share of the points would probably have been justified.
The two teams set off at a cracking pace in the damp conditions and there were early chances at both ends, Rikki Birch and Callum McBride for Gresley having shots saved and the latter shooting over from a corner, while the visitors also had a shot saved before taking the lead in the eighth minute.
Two corners in succession for the team from Wolverhampton caught the hosts asleep at the second one allowing Tom Dwyer to fire a low ball into the far corner as he advanced on goal unchallenged.
The quick tackling and incisive passing of Wulfrunians was causing problems and the home defence was breached time and again with chances being spurned, shots blocked, the woodwork coming to the rescue and Dwyer being thwarted by the keeper, Jack Woods, before he latched on to a through ball and finished with aplomb to double the visitors lead on the half-hour mark.
Wulfrunians' Tom Piggott, who was beginning to find more and more space, then had a shot well saved before Gresley pulled a goal back on 33 minutes as Birch collected a good ball from Sam Kirk, cut inside and unleashed a left foot curler into the top corner of the net.
The home side now began to apply pressure coming up to the break with a free kick resulting in a Danny Jones header being saved by the keeper and a surging run from the back by Josh Guest just lacking the final ball.
Five minutes after the restart and Gresley were level, Kirk to Birch down the left and the resultant cross found Jones unmarked to apply the finishing touch and spark wild celebrations.
Those celebrations were soon cut short during the next five minutes as Piggott, who was proving to be a real handful, restored Wulfrunians' two goal advantage when he smacked in a low cross from Dwyer and followed that up by getting on the end of a through ball and slotting home.
Back came Gresley on the attack, McBride having a shot held by the keeper and Guest seeing his effort cleared before Will Simpson reduced the deficit yet again as he rose unchallenged at the back post to head home from a corner.
With twenty-five minutes still to go it was now all hands to the pumps for both defences as tired legs produced misplaced passes and scoring chances were coming thick and fast at both ends with Birch for Gresley and Piggott for Wulfrunians wondering how they never finished up with a hat-trick each.
The home team's number nine fired just over from one free kick, was put through from another and had his shot saved, blasted over the bar with a first-time effort and finally went on a solo run which ended with him putting the ball narrowly wide of the post. Simpson also saw his free kick from the edge of the box clear the bar.
At the other end Liam Watkins, Jack Marsh and Mike Brookes all put their shots over and only Piggott will know how he failed to score as he put two chances wide when it looked easier to hit the back of the net, the second one coming only minutes before the final whistle.
Goals: Birch 33, Jones 50, Simpson 65 (Gresley); Dwyer 8 & 30, Piggott 52 & 55 (Wulfrunians).
Gresley: Woods 6, Pearson 6, Metcalfe 6, Guest 6, Hickman 5, Simpson 6, Kirk 6, McBride 6 (Sharp 66, 6), Birch 7, Jones 6 (Frewtrell 80, 5), Francis 6. Subs not used: Curtis, Goodings, Bodell.
Wulfrunians: James, Webb, Hudson (Brookes 53), Marsh, Snaith, Hamnet, Watkins, Bishop, Dwyer, Piggott, Lynch (Purdie 75). Sub not used: Whatton.
