Match Report  |  Skegness Town vs Gresley Rovers

By Alfie Burley

Gresley Rovers ensured that the title race will be decided on the final day of the season as they defeated Skegness Town 4-2 at the Vertigo Stadium on Saturday.

Steve Hart’s return to the line-up paid dividends as the striker completed a stunning hat-trick to set up a mouth-watering clash with Long Eaton United on Easter Monday.

Shay Brennan also scored as the Moatmen showed a clinical edge to overcome opponents who had previously been unbeaten at home in 2022.

Rovers started the game excellently, almost scoring in the first minute when Hart’s cross into the area was headed onto the post by Brennan.

Minutes later, however, the Moatmen would hit the front as Hart thumped a stunning free-kick into the top corner to send the travelling contingent into hysterics behind the goal.

Skegness were undeterred by the early setback however as they created some good openings. Potts nodded off-target whilst Fenney was also forced to push Marshall’s shot away from goal.

Mere seconds after Fenney’s save, Rovers would notch their second against the run of play. Hart received the ball in the area, and after forcing Askew into an awkward save, Brennan showed a poacher’s instinct to slot underneath the body of the goalkeeper.

The hosts should have pulled one back straightaway when they danced through the Rovers defence, but Potts curled wide when well placed.

Just before the half-time whistle the Seasiders were afforded a lifeline as the ball worked its way along the edge of the box before falling to Morrall who thumped a shot through the legs of George Clark and into the far corner.

Unlike the Heanor game, Gresley quickly regained their two-goal advantage before Skegness could mount a comeback. Lucas Harrison delivered a dangerous long throw into the box which wasn’t dealt with by Skegness, and Hart was on hand to guide into the bottom left corner.

At the other end Clark had an inspired second-half performance as the full-back made three vital interventions to deny the home side an opportunity on the counter-attack, stealing the ball away from Lockie with three Skegness attackers outnumbering Rovers.

Gresley would put the game to bed in the 77th minute when Ryan Seal slid the ball out to Hart on the right-hand side of the box, and as the defender backed off, Hart curled a beautiful effort into the top corner.

Skegness were able to pull another goal back in injury time as Mason Frizelle bundled Lockie over in the box, with King converting the penalty convincingly, but it was scant consolation as Rovers proved comfortable victors.