Pre-Season Friendly
Loughborough University
Tuesday, 18th July 2017, 7.15pm
Students Clinch a Friendly Win
Gresley played their third pre-season friendly at Loughborough University which ended in a 2-1 defeat.
Although manager Damion Beckford-Quailey was disappointed in the result he was not despondent but his injury list increased with new signing Cosmas Matwasa, who had had a good game, limped off with Matt Melbourne also being replaced after suffering an ankle injury.
Gresley already have a long injury list and with players on holiday the Gresley manager had to shuffle his squad as he tried out different players and formations.
Played on the Academy pitch with an immaculate surface Gresley settled well and took the lead on 18 minutes when a corner from the right by Tom Manship eventually found Jamie Barrett but his effort came back off the bar but one of Gresley's trialists was on hand to ram the rebound home.
Gresley went close again with a shot that flew wide of the far post. Loughborough's first attempt of note was comfortably held by the trialist keeper.
The keeper was alert to the danger early in the second half when he reacted well to hold a deflection which was goal bound. Five minutes later Loughborough levelled with a well struck shot from distance which beat the keeper.
A shot from a Gresley trialist was parried by the home keeper and a corner from Toby Fura, who was playing a few games before taking up a football scholarship, was headed a whisker wide of the post.
On the hour, the Students changed their whole team and the fresh legs eventually paid dividends.
A free kick from Loughborough was well held by the keeper just under the bar. It was a warning as a few minutes later another free kick taken from a similar position and by the same player gave the home side the lead. The free kick was superbly placed giving the keeper no chance.
The best action of the game came when the hardy few watching the game from the sidelines had to react quickly to avoid the automatic sprinklers which came on on the adjacent pitch.
Both sides had chances to add to their tallies as the game drew to a finish. The Gresley efforts came from Fura who burst into the area but his shot was blocked by the legs of the home keeper and then a cracking free kick from 22 yards by Lucas Harrison brought out another fine save from the young keeper getting his fists to the ball to punch it away.
