Evo-Stik NPL Division One South
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Tuesday, 17th February 2015, 7.45pm
Steels Dulled By Gresley
This was not a game for the football purist on a bitterly cold evening and on a heavy pitch but it was one that Gresley needed to win to keep their hopes of a play-off place.
Gresley got all three points in the end after what can only be called a gutsy performance at the Moat Ground with goals from Mitch Hanson and Martin Smyth.
Home manager Wayne Thornhill made changes with Eric Graves returning to the starting line-up and Chris Richards given a place on the wing. Alex Steadman took the striker's role as Luke Edward was rested tonight as well as young striker Ryan King with Saturday's game in mind.
Gresley started well and looked quite comfortable for the first twenty minutes or so making all the running. Lucas Harrison was soon testing the visiting keeper hitting a free kick which Sam Andrew grabbed at the second attempt.
Chris Richard then had a good chance when he chased a ball into the area but with Andrew racing out looped his effort over the bar.
Gresley took the lead on 20 minutes. A corner from the right by Harrison was whipped in with pace and Mitch Hanson powered his header past Andrew.
The home side seemed to ease off allowing the visitors some possession but with no end result.
Hanson, who had been struggling for a few minutes with a foot injury, had to be replaced by Jake Carlisle at the heart of the Gresley defence.
Gresley came out for the second half on the front foot and were soon pressing their visitors back. Kieran O'Connell made a good run down the left and squared the ball into the middle where it was left by Graves and Smyth cracked a shot which hit the outside of the far post.
Smyth went close again when this time Richards was provider but the final shot flew wide of the post. However, the midfielder got his just rewards a couple of minutes later. Graves worked hard down the left and picked out Smyth who curled a sublime ball past the static Andrew and into the far corner of the net.
The closest Steels got was when a corner from the left by Harrison Biggins found substitute Jacob Lever at the far post but his shot hit the side netting.
Smyth went close to adding to his tally with a clever free kick which he looped over the wall from the edge of the area and was unlucky to see his effort clip the top of the bar.
O'Connell then tested Andrew with a low shot which the keeper held well and Andrew prevented the margin from being bigger when he made a fine save diving to his left to push Steadman's well struck low shot away.
