Evo-Stik NPL League East Division
The G&R Construction Stadium, Pontefract
Saturday, 27th April 2019, 3.00pm
Sad Gresley Bow Out Of League
The contrast was there for all to see between the top of the league and the bottom - one took their chances and the other didn’t.
Playing in a very stiff wind bordering on gale force Gresley started brightly and with the wind at their backs had the first effort on target with Kane Lee firing straight at home keeper Ryan Musslewhite.
Pontefract responded with a shot which was put out for a corner. The corner was cleared as far as Spencer Weir-Daley who turned and started his run forward. With just the keeper and one defender in their own half Pontefract looked to be under pressure until Connor Smythe cynically brought the Gresley frontman down on the halfway line getting a stern word and a yellow car off referee Mr Thomas for his trouble.
Gresley forced a couple of corners but were undone on 24 minutes by a quick break down the right. A shot was well saved by visiting keeper Ben Allsop who then saved the rebound. However, he could do nothing to prevent Michael Dunn from ramming the loose ball home at the far post. Allsop kept his side in the game 5 minutes later when he made a smart save.
More corners were won by Gresley and from one of them Gresley went close when Brad Lawley got his head to Callum Riddell’s at the back post but somehow Musslewhite managed to drop on the ball before it crossed the line. Gresley went close again with Riddell’s freekick having to be pushed over the bar by the keeper.
Another quick break by the home side needed Allsop to make another fine save to keep the score down to one.
The best goal of the game came on 45 minutes and from another quick break. This time down the left. A pinpoint cross from Dunn picked out Vaughan Redford in the middle of the box and his powerful header beat Allsop.
The wind had got even stronger during the halftime break and Pontefract was using the advantage sending high long balls into Gresley’s area. Jake Picton tried his luck with a shot from distance that sailed over the bar.
On the hour Kane Lee did well to shield the ball before hitting a shot on the turn that Musslewhite had to push away for a corner.
Home substitute Christopher Johnson thought he’d added to the tally but a superb save from Allsop diving full length to his right turned the shot away for a corner.
Pontefract looked the team who would end up as runners-up and were pressing Gresley back into their own half aided by the wind. Another substitute, Luke Jeffs, swung in a corner from the right and Spencer Clarke rose to meet the ball but Allsop provided another great save to turn the effort away for a corner.
The third of Pontefract’s goal was fortunate to say the least. Johnson’s shot appeared to have been covered by Allsop but a wicked deflection took the ball away from the helpless keeper and into the next giving the score-line a harsh look about it.
At the end of the game Pontefract received the thoroughly deserved league runner’s-up trophy and a place in the play-off while Gresley’s fate was sealed and will now have to await the decision of the FA as to where they will be plying their trade next season.
