Evo-Stik Division One South
The Hawthorns, Brigg
Saturday, 24th January 2015, 3.00pm
Gresley in Seventh Heaven!
Gresley made the long trip to Brigg but the trip was worthwhile as they banged in seven goals and kept a clean sheet.
The Moatmen had overwhelmed their hosts earlier in the season at the Moat ground slamming ten goals past the Zebras and it could easily have been a similar score today if it had not been for a couple of decent saves from keeper Jody Burford and a penalty which was not given by the referee.
Gresley manager Wayne Thornhill welcomed back Kieran O'Connell after serving his four game suspension and it was if he'd never been away as once he'd got back into the game he was causing allsorts of problems for the beleaguered Brigg defence.
Jake Carlisle returned to the centre of the defence alongside Jamie Barrett as Mitch Hanson was absent serving the second of his three game ban. Striker Luke Edwards was again given a start as Thornhill eases him back to full match fitness.
The final scoreline looked a little far off as Gresley struggled to get into their stride on a surprisingly good surface. The only chance of note in the first thirty minutes or so came from Alex Steadman firing a shot wide of the far post.
However, Steadman didn't miss his next chance. Martin Smyth made a good run through the middle and let fly with a tremendous shot that Burford could only parry but Steadman responded the quickest ramming the loose ball into the net.
That goal seemed to deflate the home side and Gresley added two more goals before the break. The first came from Lucas Harrison who raced forward before unleashing a low shot from distance which beat Burford although the keeper got a hand to the ball. The second was the end result of some fine inter play between O'Connell, Edwards and Steadman.
O'Connell skipped towards the Zebras' goal and slipped the ball out to Edwards who had made a good run down the left. Edwards in turn sent a low cross into the box where Steadman was waiting to slot the ball home.
O'Connell was having more influence as the game went on and almost from the start of the second half he was once more dictating play. He found Steadman over on the left but the final shot brought out a fine save from Burford tipping what looked certain to be Steadman's hat-trick strike over the bar.
Gresley had a nailed on claim for a penalty as Edwards was clearly bundled to the ground in the area but referee Mr Dunne waved away the appeals although his assistant who was nearest to the incident was flagging to the contrary.
Edwards was replaced minutes later by Rob Mulonga and his speed down the flanks proved another problem for the home defence and it was his persistence which yielded goal number four. He raced down the right and despite the attention of a defender managed to get in a dangerous low cross into the box where the unfortunate Daniel Ragan helped the ball into his own net.
A rare attempt on the Gresley goal came when a short pass from Langston found Lee Clay but his low shot was comfortably held by keeper Liam Roberts. Langston then had a chance to make amends and to extend the Gresley lead but his free kick from the left was grabbed by Burford under his bar.
Four minutes later Langston did get on the score sheet and it was O'Connell who was again involved putting a fine cross into the box for Langston to slot home from close in.
Three minutes later the sixth goal arrived. O'Connell played a one-two with Steadman before daintily chipping the ball over Burford and into the net.
O'Connell then fired a shot which Burford grabbed at the second attempt but the keeper could not prevent O'Connell from getting his deserved second goal of the game. Burford did well to deny Eric Graves twice in succession with good blocks. The ball then came out to O'Connell who rounded Burford before hammering the ball into the net.
