Evo-Stik NPL Division One South
Sir Halley Stewart Field, Spalding
Monday, 28th December 2015, 3.00pm
Gresley Tiptoe Through The Tulips
Gresley ended 2015 with arguably their best performance of the season on a surface which was not conducive to flowing football for either side sending their travelling faithful on their long journey home very happy.
The visitors were short of players for the visit to Spalding having just three substitutes on the bench but they did have a new face in the starting line-up with midfielder Liam Holt making his Gresley debut after signing from Romulus on Friday.
Gresley started brightly with Gary Ricketts blazing a shot over the bar from a tight angle. Matt Roome made a good break out of defence and after a one-two with Martin Smyth who found Jordan Ball who struck a shot from the edge of the box which was deflected just wide of the far post.
Spalding were finding it difficult to carve out some meaningful attacks but managed to force two corner which came to nothing.
The pitch was having a say in the game with passes going astray on the uneven and heavy surface. Ryan King who was causing the Tulips all sorts of problems with his pace, and almost set up Gresley's opening goal. Ricketts managed to knock the ball down to the youngster who laid the ball back to Ball but a horrible bobble meant the chance was gone.
Holt was having a good debut and after another great tackle in the centre of the pitch drove forward and laid the ball on for Smyth whose shot was blocked for a corner.
The visitors took a deserved lead just after the half hour mark. Ricketts did well to control the ball bringing it down before turning in the area but Neal Spafford was clumsy with his tackle bringing the big front man down giving referee Mr Feerick a straightforward decision pointing to the penalty spot. Ricketts, who missed a penalty spot in the previous game, took the kick and this time made no mistake sending Tulips' keeper Michael Duggan the wrong way.
Spalding started the second half on the front foot and were soon threatening Gresley's goal but Paul Walker couldn't connect sufficiently well enough with Dan Banister's cross and his effort flew wide.
The home side did have the ball in the net but was denied by the upraised flag of the assistant referee after Gresley keeper Rob Peet had saved well from Ethan Lee who netted the rebound but had been in an offside position when he initially received the ball from Kweku Lucan.
Spalding were applying pressure on the Gresley defence with a corner but the visitors broke superbly. Ball collected the ball just outside the area and slipped the ball to Jack Langston who in turn sent over a sublime diagonal ball to King who raced forward down the left. He pace beat Adam Jackson into the box and he sent in an inviting ball across the face of Spalding's goal to Ball at the far post who slotted the ball home.
The best chance of the game for Spalding came on 61 minutes when Walker ran into the area and seeing Peet off his line tried to loop the ball over the keeper's head but the backpedalling Peet made a fine save to tip the ball over the bar.
Moments later Gresley had to make a change when King suffered a hip injury to be replaced by Jamie Barret who missed the previous game through illness.
The home side were looking to get back in the game and were causing Gresley problems at the back but the defence was holding firm under the pressure.
Gresley sewed the game up with 8 minutes remaining. Holt made a good driving run into the area and sent over a cross to the far post where Ricketts was waiting. His downward header was heading into the far corner of the net but it clipped a defender on its way but still ended in the back of the net. Slightly fortunate? Yes, but it's about time Gresley had the rub of the green.
Gresley were a little unfortunate not to have had another penalty when Ball was brought down in the area but the referee waved the protests away.
Deep into time added on Holt was unlucky not to have scored on his debut when he met Langston's free kick but his header was spectacularly saved near the post by Duggan.
Spalding's miserable Christmas period was summed up right at the end of the game. A cross into the box found the unmarked Jamie Graham at the far post but with the goal gaping a couple of yards or so in front of him somehow managed to plant his header wide of the mark.
