Evo-Stik South
Bill Stokeld Stadium, Stoke Lane, Gedling, Nottingham
Wednesday, 25th April 2018, 7.45pm
A Valiant Display From Gresley
Well, what more can you say but huge congratulations to the lads who played their hearts out at Carlton tonight and won an entertaining game.
Among the side were lads who were struggling with knocks but they still put a great shift in and yes, they had to dig deep at times and with keeper Callum Hawkins having one of his usual superb games behind them and with the experience of Mark Branch and Lucas Harrison they defended splendidly.
Stand-in manager Gary Norton and his colleagues understandably made changes from the side who fought so gallantly at Stamford two days previous.
Max Atkins, Zak Evans and Mitchell White were given the start with Harry Hughes (not available) and Connor Ward out for the rest of the season with ruptured ankle ligaments picked up at Stamford. Sixteen-year-old White had a remarkable game considering that he had never played at right back before!
Carlton themselves made changes from the side which Gresley faced at the Moat Ground just over a week ago but never the less the game was an entertaining one for all those who had travelled to Stoke Lane.
Carlton started strongly forcing corners and a free kick. It was from one of the corners that Hawkins made one of several good saves pushing a well struck shot away.
Hawkins made another good save by standing strong to block Danny Elliott who had broken through Gresley’s back line.
The first sight of goal for the visitors came for Harrison who fired over from distance but it was the home side who continued to go close with Elliott and Harry Gibbons both firing wide.
Ryan King was causing problems and brought out a save from home keeper Jack Steggles as he blocked King’s shot. King went close again five minutes later when, after some good work down the left, fired a shot which whipped across the face of Steggles’ goal.
Harrison had Steggles scrambling back when his free kick bounced just in front of the stranded keeper who somehow got back to push the ball over the bar for a corner.
The first half ended with Evans firing a shot from distance straight at Steggles.
Within a couple of minutes or so Carlton took the lead when Mamoke Akaunu managed to stab home Ben Wallace’s corner.
With full credit to Gresley’s young side they began to control the game and were soon on level terms when a great cross from the left by King found Evans running in at the far post and he duly smashed the ball into the net.
Hawkins prevented Carlton from regaining the lead making yet another top class save.
On 69 minutes Gresley took the lead from another good piece of football. Max Atkin, usually a goalkeeper, did well down the left before sending over a cross for Kane Lee to put in the net.
Carlton tried hard to get back but found the Gresley defence determined to keep them out making some well-timed tackles.
Gresley went close to extending their lead when Lee burst forward into the area only for Steggles, rushing off his line, to block his shot.
Carlton had one more chance as the game drew to a close with a header flying just over the bar but it was Gresley’s night as they completed the double over their hosts.
There were a lot of weary bodies from both sides as they walked off the pitch as their frantic end to the season draws to a conclusion but both teams can be congratulated for all their efforts.
