Midland Football Alliance
Pack Meadow, Packington Lane, Coleshill
Tuesday, 28th February 2012, 7.45pm
Oliver Double Seals The Win For Gresley
Gresley manager made just one change to Saturday's starting line-up with Richard Hanslow swapping places with Royce Turville. James Jepson, who had been a doubt before the game managed to complete a full ninety minutes and Mickey Lyons had recovered from his dead-leg to take a place on the bench.
The visitors started brightly and were denied from taking an early lead by Town's keeper Chris Jay who pulled off a superb save to push Jepson's thunderous volley onto his crossbar.
Gresley were having the better of the game but could not find the breakthrough. Town were always a threat on a quick break so the visiting backline had to be fully aware of the possible danger.
A very bobbly surface was playing havoc with the passing of both sides and the nearest either side got to scoring after Jepson's effort came very late in the first half with two chances for Gresley. A corner from the right found Michael Nottingham but he could only put his header over the bar and then Dean Oliver striking a low shot that Jay held at the base of the upright.
Despite Gresley having the better of the first half it was the home side who carved out the first chance just a few minutes into the second when Danny Carter managed to get into a good position at the near post but Gresley keeper Gary Hateley did very well to block the shot.
Scare over, Gresley began to again take control of the game and the plight of Coleshill was not helped by them going down to ten men on 57 minutes when central defender Greg Dickie received a second yellow from referee Mr Light for a foul on Oliver. The resultant free kick was taken by Marc Goodfellow whose goal bound shot produced another top drawer save from Jay as he tipped the ball over the bar.
Gresley took the lead on 63 minutes. Jepson made a good run into the area only to be hacked down by Anton Astley giving the referee no option but to point to the spot. Oliver took the kick and beat the keeper with a low shot despite Jay choosing the right way to dive.
Seven minutes later Oliver doubled Gresley's advantage. Rob Spencer's persistence enabled him to push the ball to Oliver who, after taking a step sideways, hammered the ball into the net.
It was no more than Gresley deserved; indeed they went close to adding to their score just minutes later. A good one-two between Jamie Barrett and Spencer saw the former hitting a shot from just inside the area that was well parried by Jay.
On 79 minutes there was a moment of controversy due to poor refereeing. Substitute Turville raced forward and as he strode into the area with only the keeper to beat was pushed in the back by a defender causing the striker to tumble forward but amazingly Mr Light either didn't see it or chose to ignore what was the clearest penalty anyone could see on a football field much to the anger of players, management and supporters alike.
Turville almost got his revenge after again beating the backline. This time the defenders thought the better of laying a hand on him but his shot after beating the diving jay flew just past the far post.
Gresley's hard earned win saw them stretch their unbeaten league run to eighteen games stretching back to early October as they closed the gap on the leading pair of Coventry Sphinx and Westfields who both have yet to visit the Moat Ground.
