Evo-Stik NPL League Division One South
The Oval, Bedworth
Saturday, 11th February 2017, 3.00pm
Gresley Bowled Over At The Oval
There's one thing you can be sure of when you follow Gresley is a roller-coaster season but unfortunately this was one of the big dips that follow a great high.
Tuesday's game against high-flying Buxton was a high as they thumped their Premier Division visitors in the County Cup at the Moat Ground but this game was a definite low as a lacklustre performance on what should have been a surface suited to the style of their play.
To be honest it was a game from both sides which could easily be forgotten with hardly anything of note to report on from either side especially in the first half.
Damion Beckford-Quailey kept faith in the same starting eleven which did so well against Buxton with one exception as Rob Peet replaced Max Atkin in goal. Beckford-Quailey admitted afterwards that perhaps he'd make the wrong selections for this game on this 3G surface.
The first half was a dismal affair with only a half chance early on from the hosts worthy of any note but the effort was a poor one from Jack Jeys who scuffed his shot straight at Peet.
The ball was bouncing well over the heads of all the players or running away from them making for a very disjointed half.
Gresley's Dexter Morris-Clarke was replaced on 37 minutes by Ben Harris due to an ankle injury.
The second half was not much better but veteran Iyseden Christie did at least get a shot on target on 51 minutes which was well saved by Peet at his near post.
Bedworth had a couple of chances with both substitute Daniel Creaney and Christie heading over the bar. Christie went close again on 73 minutes but was thwarted by Peet who produced a good block.
The only goal of the game came on 85 minutes. The ball was lost on the right and a charge forward ended with a cross met at the far post by Creaney who was left unguarded to rise and head past the stationary Peet.
Gresley suddenly sparked into life for the final five minutes putting Bedworth under pressure for arguably the first time in the match but it all came to nothing as the best side won the game.
Why Gresley left it so late to show any life is anyone's guess but they certainly need to up their game if they are to ease away from the bottom reaches of the league.
