Northern Premier League Midlands
The Moat Ground
Saturday, 26th November 2022, 3.00pm
Another Defeat For The Moatmen
It was another frustrating afternoon for Gresley as they were defeated by un-beaten Spalding United who scored both goals from set pieces the first of which should not have been allowed.
Manager Carl Abbott had to make changes to his side with Alby Lansdowne still a couple of weeks or so away from returning from injury and with Kane Lee and Jordi Gough both missing. However, there was a welcome return from injury for Alex Morris.
Within the first couple of minutes Gresley had a golden chance to take the lead or at least to test the keeper but his effort, from a good position sailed over the bar.
A few minutes later the visitors also had a good chance, but James Clifton also fired his shot well over the bar.
On 19 minutes the Tulips went even closer to opening the score when Clifton’s cross from the right was inches away from the foot of Dylan Edge sliding in at the far post.
A fumble from Tulips’ keeper Michael Duggan as he tried to claim a high ball into the area allowed Kieran Wells to flick a header out to Dany Munday, making his first start after returning to the club, but his shot went agonisingly wide of the far post.
Spruce had another chance when Wells cleverly backheeled the ball to him on the left but his shot was saved by Duggan.
On 40 minutes Gresley had what they thought was a goal chalked off by the referee who thought Nathan Stansfield had been fouled by the near post but the United man was already on the floor and almost off the pitch when the referee’s late decision to award the freekick denied the home side what looked like a perfectly good goal.
Just before the break the referee made another controversial decision when a visiting defender clearly handled the ball in the area after Lewis Belgrave’s shot had been saved denying Gresley a penalty much to the anger of players, management and supporters who had seen the offence.
Spalding started brightly in the second half with Morris having to make a well-timed block as the lively Edge raced into Gresley’s area.
Yet another controversial decision led to the visitors taking the lead. On 50 minutes the ball was put out by a Spalding player but to everyone’s amazement and disbelief the referee awarded a corner which was swung in by Lewis Hilliard from the left and duly dispatched by Clifton with a header from the middle of the area.
The players and supporters were not impressed by the way Gresley had gone behind in the game and tempers were starting to rise with the game getting very stop start.
Spalding went close again just four minutes later when Josh Moreman saw his effort go just the wrong side of the far post.
Gresley’s George Clark’s header was easily dealt with by Duggan before both sides made their first chances of the game. For Gresley Chris Camwell replaced Wells while Stefan Broccoli replaced Moreman for the visitors.
The game was very bitty and with both sides making more changes things didn’t improve with niggly fouls happening regularly.
Spalding doubled their advantage with three minutes of normal time remaining and yet again from a very dubious decision. A free kick from the right found Clifton who made no mistake giving Phillips no chance.
Gresley came close to closing the gap as substitute Camwell hit a ferocious shot from just outside the area which Duggan did well to parry away from danger.
The Gresley frustrations came to a head as the game drew to an end with Spruce receiving a yellow card and Michael Williams his second of the game and so a red after making his views forcibly to the assistant referee.
