Evo-Stik South
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 21st October 2017, 3.00pm
Gresley Battle For A Vital Win
Thankfully, the gale force winds forecast for around kick off time along with heavy downpours of rain didn't materialise, but the wind was strong enough to make playing difficult with long passes going astray.
The visitors can feel a little aggrieved with not getting at least a share of the points but poor finishing plus dogged defending from Gresley ably led by skipper Jamie Barrett ensured Gresley got their much-needed win and with it their first clean sheet. The result meant Gresley had taken four points from the two games between the two sides with Gresley deservedly sharing the points in a 1-1 draw at the end of September.
Gresley manager Damion Beckford-Quailey made just one change from their last league game with Tom Manship taking the midfield slot from Jason Law.
The home side made the perfect start taking the lead with just 4 minutes on the clock when Matt Melbourne slid a superb ball through to strike partner Ryan Robbins to his left and the big frontman made no mistake slipping the ball past visiting keeper Dan George.
Sports started to master the conditions and they were soon applying pressure on the Gresley defence but could not find the killer touch needed to draw level.
They went close on the half-hour when the wind helped Lewis Hilliard swing in a corner from the left which appeared to come off Mark Jones only to fly over the bar.
Some interesting decisions from referee Mr Kane led to a rash of free kicks which disrupted the flow of the match.
However, Sports must have thought it wasn't going to be their day when on the stroke of half time Dan Lawler hit a scorcher of a shot helped by the wind which struck the bar and away to safety.
Sports continued where they left off in the second half but their finishing left a lot to be desired as they missed chance after chance.
The first came when Hilliard intercepted a woefully short back pass and the new signing raced forward but with only Gresley keeper Callum Hawkins to beat could only put his effort over the bar. The same player had another golden chance a minute later but this time put a header from a good position also over.
The chances kept coming with Jones the offender this time. After making a good run down the right could only put his shot wide of the near post.
Sport had their only shot on target just after the hour mark when Ashley Robinson fired a low shot which was easily gathered by Hawkins, who despite the visitors' pressure, was having one of his easiest games so far.
Gresley made a chance on 69 minutes when a great pass picked out Louis Danquah on the left and the youngster raced down the left and put in a cross which was almost put into his own net by Lawlor.
Sports' frustration was starting to spill over and James Goode's tackle on Melbourne surprisingly only warranted a yellow card according to the referee when surely a red would have been more justified owing to the double footed lunge.
Sports went close again on 79 minutes but still their finishing left a lot to be desired. Jones made a good turn on the edge of the area but blasted his shot over the bar. Melbourne tried his luck from distance but also fired over the bar.
Goode's poor tackle led to a second yellow with the inevitable red following. Perhaps some justice for the earlier tackle.
With Gresley defending well for the last few moments Sports had one final attempt to salvage something from the game but yet another chance, this time from Josh Moreman, went sailing past the near post.
This performance was not one of the better Gresley ones in the recent run of games, but it showed guts and determination and the one chance that did pop up was coolly dispatched by Robbins.
