Evo-Stik South
Greenwich Ave, Basford
Monday, 9th October 2017, 7.45pm
Gresley Stun Title Contenders
Well, who'd have thought it! Gresley, presently bottom of the league, visiting Basford United who were looking to go top, and coming away with an excellent share of the points from a closely contested match in which a stranger would have been hard pressed to know who was top and who was bottom.
Before the game things continued to conspire against Gresley with Josh Egginton ill overnight, Matt Melbourne also not feeling one hundred percent, Lucas Harrison feeling an ankle injury in the warm up and to top it all striker Ryan Robbins delayed in his journey to the ground and not getting to the game until halftime.
This meant changes for the original starting eleven with Egginton replacing Harrison and Law replacing Robbins. There was also a new face with 17-year-old goalkeeper Callum Hawkins coming in on work experience from Burton Albion.
On the 3G surface Gresley started brightly forcing two early corners but the first chance came to the home side when after a good move ended with a well struck shot which was well blocked by Jamie Barrett.
A few minutes later Hawkins was forced into making a superb save diving to his left to push away a fiercely struck shot by James Reid from distance.
On 38 minutes a free kick from Tom Manship flew narrowly past the far post and the visitors went close again a couple of minutes later. Dexter Morris-Clarke made a good run through the middle and slipped the ball to his right to Reece Morris who then returned the ball to the midfielder. Dexter-Clarke's well struck shot from the edge of the area was deflected away for a corner.
Hawkins, who was having a fine debut, was called into action at the end of the first half. A corner from the left went long and Reid collected the ball and sent it back into the box to Liam Hearn who, a couple of yards out, looked certain to score but the young goalkeeper reacted superbly to block the effort.
Gresley took the lead on 57 minutes. A corner from the left by Manship was only half cleared and the ball eventually came to Melbourne who sent a low cross into the box and Jason Law tapped home from close in.
A very dubious decision by referee Ian Jackson had a big hand in Basford levelling two minutes later. Gresley are still not getting the rub of the green from officials with their players being shown yellow cards for fouls whereas Basford players making similar infringements getting away with just a talking to.
Melbourne was clearly fouled on the halfway line but astonishingly the decision went the way of the home side with protests from Gresley players, management and supporters being ignored. The free kick was pushed forward to Matthew Thornhill whose shot was well parried by Hawkins only for Hearn to slot home from close in.
Another dubious decision saw a free kick for the home side. The ball was partially blocked but Jerry Nash latched into the loose ball and fired a shot from 25 yards which fizzed over the bar.
Despite Basford pressing to find the goal which would take them top, Gresley had their fair share of chances to grab an unlikely win with one of them from Robbins who had replaced Law on 74 minutes. A free kick from the striker flew just wide of the near post while at the other end a shot from the home side went just over.
To be honest it would have been an injustice if either side had sneaked all three points in the end. Gresley have had their ups and down so far this season but this performance was definitely one of the ups and regarded as arguably the best so far by those who had made the journey to Nottingham.
