FA Cup Preliminary Round
Loughborough University
Saturday, 20th August 2016, 3.00pm
Gresley Pass The Test At The University
Gresley manager Damion Beckford-Quailey made changes for the visit to Loughborough University in the Preliminary Round of the FA Emirates Cup.
Coming into the starting eleven was Jake Carlisle, Lynas King and new signing Tom Manship. Absent were Courtney Meade (work commitments), Matt Roome (Illness), Matt Melbourne (injury) and Josh Egginton (rested).
Gresley started brightly on an immaculate surface with Manship picking out Tendai Chitiza whose shot was pushed away by Students keeper Conor O'Keefe. From the resulting corner Ben Harris headed over.
The visitors were pressing forward and took the lead on 12 minutes. A free kick by Manship was cleared only as far as Pearson Mwanyongo who cut into the area from the right and looped his shot over the head of O'Keefe and into the net.
More good football from Gresley almost added a second. Chitiza returned the ball to Reece Morris who found himself in on goal but the keeper did well to block the final shot.
Chitiza was causing the home defence problems and cut into the area again only this time his shot flew over the bar.
Loughborough started to have the better of the game and a header from Josh Hill brought out a good save from Rob Peet at his near post.
The Students drew level on 35 minutes. A long high ball down the right was miss judged by Lucas Harrison and the ball bounced over his head and into the path of Luke Trotman who made a surging run forward and picked out team mate Tom Barnes who coolly slipped the ball past Peet.
Barnes had a glorious chance to put his side in front turning on the edge of the area but he skewed his shot past the far post.
Trotman then went close also firing wide as Loughborough threatened as the first half drew to a close but it was Gresley who had the best chance to go in for the break ahead but Chitiza missed it firing straight at O'Keefe from just a few yards out.
The Students' cause was not helped when in time added on they were down to ten men. Morris made a run through the middle of the home back line but David Brennan, who had been booked earlier in the game, pulled the diminutive winger down. Referee Rob Hathaway showed the hapless defender a second yellow card followed by the red card.
Gresley needed to make the extra man count in the second half but Loughborough were having none of it and were making their opponents work hard.
Chitiza hit a shot on the turn over the bar and a bursting run by Carlisle saw the ball played to Ben Harris who struck his shot into the arms of the grateful O'Keefe.
Gresley's second goal was a beauty. Chitiza again causing problems down the left cut In after beating his marker before curling a delightful shot into the top far corner with O'Keefe a mere spectator as the ball flew past him.
As the half went on it looked like it would be the visitors who score again and the third goal duly arrived and what a good goal it was.
Good work by Chitiza down the right saw him thread a ball through to substitute Toby Fura who in turn put the perfect ball into the area for Harris to smash home.
Barnes should have reduced the arrears for the Students a couple of minutes later but in acres of space someone clipped the outside of the far post and the chance was gone.
Loughborough was putting Gresley's defence under considerable pressure but a quick break almost added another to the visitors' tally when Mwanyongo sped down the middle of the pitch but finished his move firing just over the bar.
Gresley's fourth and final goal came with just 10 minutes of the match remaining and it was another good goal. Morris sent over a superb long diagonal cross over to Mwanyongo lurking on the right flank. After controlling the ball, he darted into the area and hit a shot which O'Keefe blocked at his near post. However, the ball looped into the box and Chitiza rose the highest to head the ball into the net.
Gresley substitute Marley Hamilton who had been on the field around ten minutes went close to scoring on his debut but his shot from the left was blocked by O'Keefe.
The final say of the game fell for the hosts as a speculative cross-cum-shot hit the top of Peet's bar.
Gresley will now travel to take on United Counties League side Deeping Rangers, who beat Wroxham 2-1, on Saturday 3rd September in the First Round Qualifying.
