Match Photos
Gresley Rovers vs Highgate United
Rovers Reserves could only draw with a useful Highgate Utd side despite having the better of the chances in a scrappy game at the Moat Ground.
Highgate, who's team consists of Solihull College football academy students, had the better of the first exchanges with some neat passing and off the ball running creating one or two openings as the Gresley defence looked disorganised early on.
Highgate almost took the lead when Matt Moran was caught in possession and Marcus Vry was put clear but Brad Clarke made a fine double save to deny the visitors.
Gresley’s first opening came from a long Clarke clearance that found Jon Jenkinson in space but his long range volley flew well over the bar.
Mykey Pryce should have put Rovers in front on 27 minutes when he raced through on goal but messed up his attempt to round the keeper. Pryce made amends in the 35th minutes when he brought then ball down in the box surrounded by defenders and somehow managed a fine left foot shot that flew into the roof of the net.
A mistake by Owen James let in Ross Casey but again Brad Clarke was on hand to deny him with a fine left handed save which was then cleared by the Rovers defence.
Another mistake by James let in Vry and the Rovers defender again had Clarke to thank as he produced another fine save after 48 minutes.
Highgate were pressing hard and almost equalised on 54 minutes when an unstoppable 30 yard shot from Casey had Clarke beaten but the effort cannoned back off the bar and was cleared to safety.
Gresley changed the attack by introduced new signing Gareth Burgess and Ryan Yearsley on 61 minutes for Pryce and Jenkinson and Burgess soon showed his intentions with a neat turn but his shot at goal lacked power.
Highgate grabbed a deserve equaliser on 70 minutes when the Gresley defence got caught square and Dowell raced through untracked from midfield to beat the unfortunate Clarke who up until that point had been in unbeatable form.
Final Score:
Rovers Reserves 1
Highgate Reserves 1
1. Brad Clarke
2. Owen James
3. Nathan Tate
4. Paul Grosse
5. Mickey Sandar (C)
6. Carl Timms
7. Matt Moran
8. Carl Slater
9. Mykey Pryce
10. John Jenkinson
11. Earl Alexander
12. Gareth Burgess
14. Ryan Yearsley
15. Danny Lonergan
