Match Report  |  Gresley FC vs Dagenham & Redbridge

On a beautiful sunny summer afternoon visitors League Two Dagenham & Redbridge put on a fine display which saw them take a 4-0 halftime lead. Goals from Luke Howell, two from Dwight Gayle and one from Moat Ground favourite Brian Woodall gave them a comfortable lead at the break.

Both sides made plenty of changes for the second half and a spirited fight back from Gresley playing the more usual 4-4-2 formation dug in and reduced the arrears with a goal from substitute Richard Hanslow.

Gresley started brightly with Dean Oliver flashing a shot just past Daggers' keeper Chris Lewiston's far post but that was a close as the home side where to come as the visitors began to dominate the game.

Gavin Hoyte went close to opening the scoring but his delicate chip from the right sailed over the bar. Gresley keeper Tom Gutteridge was then called on to push Billy Bingham's away for a corner as the Daggers continued to threaten.

On 23 minutes a corner from the left by Howell seemed to deceive the home defenders and the ball cannoned back off the base of the near post.

However, the visitors didn't have long to wait for their opener as it came two minutes later. A good run down the left ended with Hoyte floating over a cross that Howell headed home.

A couple of minutes later it was two-nil and the scorer was former Moatman and Gresley favourite Woodall. He collected the ball over on the left and took a couple of strides inside before curling an inch perfect shot around Gutteridge and into the bottom far corner of the net prompting cheers from both sets of supporters.

Dagenham were well on top and it wasn't a case of if but when another goal would come. Josh Scott went close putting his shot just past an upright but Gayle went one step further scoring the visitors' third goal just after the half-hour mark.

A free kick on the left was played by Howell to Bingham who returned the favour and Howell put in a low cross into the box where Gayle managed to get in front of a defender before turning the ball home from close in at the near post.

Gayle added to his total when he managed to get to a through ball before the advancing Gutteridge stabbing the ball into the empty net. Three minutes later the diminutive front man had a glorious opportunity to claim his hat-trick when Gutteridge brought him down in the area. Unfortunately, Gayle's spot kick was poor and the ball flew past the wrong side of the post.

Both sides made substantial changes for the second half with Gresley reverting to the usual 4-4-2 with Richard Hanslow and Royce Turville playing up front and it seemed to have its desired effect with the home side looking far more solid and threatening.

The visitors' defence were now having to work hard to snuff out a determined Gresley attack and held out until the 70 minute when Gresley pulled a goal back. A deflected long ball saw Hanslow race forward go around the keeper before slipping the ball home. Hanslow almost chalked off another but this time his shot went wide of the target.

The final attempt of the afternoon came from the visitors when Sam Williams hit a stinging shot on the turn from close in that brought out a fine reaction save from substitute keeper Gary Hateley.