Match Report  |  Mickleover Sports vs Gresley FC

This was a resounding victory for Gresley who could have scored more as the totally dominated the game from start to finish.

Gresley made changes to the staring line-up in their last game against Matlock. Matt Roome replaced Sam Woods in the right back slot, Jordi Gough returned to his usual left back position. Danny Holmes and Mickey Lyons returned to midfield with Rob Spencer out wide.

The game had been in doubt right up until kick off after the awful wet weather over the last couple of days and credit to the Sports groundsmen the game was allowed to go ahead by referee Liam Jones although he kept an eye on the steady rain that began to fall.

As could be expected the surface was extremely heavy and slippery and it was the hosts who had a rare attempt on goal when Sam Griffiths curled a shot which headed to the top far corner but Gresley keeper Gary Hateley made the save to push the ball away.

Gresley soon mastered the atrocious conditions and went close themselves but Marc Strzyzewski's powerful header from Holmes' corner came back off the bar and Phil Massingham's bicycle kick attempt at the rebound flew over.

The visitors took the lead minutes later when Massingham's shot, according to the referee's assistant on the far side, crept over the goal line but was hotly disputed by former Moatman keeper Tom Gutteridge.

However, there was no disputing the second goal. A fast flowing move down the left saw Gough race into the area before picking out Spencer who made no mistake slotting the ball home from close in.

Gough himself went close to adding to the score but this time Gutteridge did well to palm the ball away for a corner. Holmes once more took the flag kick and again Gough in a good position scuffed his shot and it flew into the arms of the grateful Gutteridge.

Goal number three came just before the half time break. A corner from the right found Jamie Barrett whose attempt was blocked on the line but Strzyzewski following up slammed the ball home.

Gresley continued to dominate the second half with Massingham shooting straight at Gutteridge and Lyons firing wide of the far post.

The visiting keeper Gary Hateley, largely unoccupied for most of the match needed to be alert when Nick Wood tried a shot but it was a comfortable save from the keeper.

Gresley added another goal with twenty minutes remaining when substitute Gareth Langford, who had replaced Barrett six minutes earlier who was suffering from a dead leg, side footed a looping shot which caught out Gutteridge completely sailing over his head and into the far corner.

Hateley had one more save to make when he pushed away Sports' substitute Robert Ritchie-Smith's effort away.

Gresley had to play out the remaining ten minutes or so of the game when Roome was shown a straight red card. A Sports' player had made a run towards the area, cut across Roome who then clipped his ankles. After talking with his assistant and adjudging that Roome had been the last man, the referee had no alternative but to send the Gresley player off although the decision was a little harsh.

The ten men easily dealt with the final minutes and thoroughly deserved their win although not getting out of third gear due to the conditions.