Coalville Town vs Gresley FC
Gresley youth team made it three wins on the bounce with this fine 4-1 away win against a previously unbeaten Coalville Town Youth.
Manager Steve Gee made two changes from the side that won at Anstey Nomads the previous week, Sam Gee returned from suspension at the heart of the defence alongside Dom Hickman and Harry Arckless made his first start of the season on the left wing with Connor Ward moving onto the right wing replacing the injured Charlie Stoddart. On the Gresley bench was recent signing Kai Thompson.
The game started at a good tempo with both sides playing football with chances being created at both ends, with Gresley keeper Jack Mills collecting several crosses into the box. Coalville saw a thumping long range strike crash against the bar in the 6th minute, but it was Gresley who opened the scoring when a hopeful ball over the top of the Coalville defence by Trafford Pickering was misjudged by the Coalville keeper who completely missed his clearance and Callum Riddell ran onto to the loose ball rolling it into the empty net.
Gresley seemed to gain confidence after the opening goal and scored again soon with a quick counter attack as Riddell laid the ball into Harry Arckless path who hit a perfect left footed strike from the edge of the box, leaving the keeper with no chance.
In the 40th minute Gresley scored their third of the night when Harry Arckless turned provider this time for Callum Riddell as he played a lovely ball down the left hand channel splitting the Coalville defence and Riddell slotted the ball into the net, taking his season's total upto nine goals.
Coalville did manage to reduce the arrears on the stroke of half time when a low cross was turned into his own net by the hardworking but unfortunate Arckless.
After the break the young Ravens put Gresley under some early pressure but couldn't break down a stubborn Gresley defence. It was Gresley who sealed the points in the 64th minute when debutant Kai Thompson broke through and blasted the ball left footed high into the Coalville net.
The final twenty-five minutes or so were played out with both sides having a few half chances with Coalville hitting the woodwork but Gresley remained in control to secure a third win on the bounce, setting up next weeks interesting looking home encounter against neighbours Stapenhill.
Gresley: Mills, Taylor, Lansdowne, Gee, Hickman, Pickering, Ward, Pickering, Riddell, Hughes, Arckless
Subs: Westwood, Bagnall, Bourne, Thompson, Binks
