Match Report  |  Gresley Rovers vs Bedworth United

Written by Adam Cockerill

10 men Gresley Rovers hold out strong to beat Bedford United, to pull them away from the relegation battle.

An early goal from Danny Munday was all Rovers needed to earn the three points.

It was not plain sailing for Rovers however, as Dominic Perkins saw red controversially at the end of the first half.

The Moatmen battled hard in the second half and threw everything in the way of the Bedworth attacks.

First chance of the game fell to Bedworth in the 7th minute as Trea Bertie picked up the ball from a flick on in the midfield and unleashed a strike towards goal but Lewis Fenney pulled off a smart save and parried it to his left.

In the 14th minute, Gresley’s first chance of the game resulted in a goal as set piece routine from a throw in found Munday at the back post and he leapt above the full back and headed past Sam Lomax in the Bedworth goal.

Bedworth nearly replied seven minutes later as a bit of pin ball outside the Gresley box fell to Richard Blythe who turned and snap shot left Lewis Fenney grounded to the spot but trickled onto the post.

Despite the Bedworth pressure, Gresley looked ever dangerous on the counter attack with James Spruce and Shaq Leachman-Whittingham always looking a threat in behind the Bedworth defence.

With five minutes to go before half time, Bedworth captain Blythe was lucky not to be shown a card as it looked like an apparent off the ball incident with George Clark which resulted in Clark on the floor.

What was more questionable, was the referees decision to book Dominic Perkins moments after due to apparent time wasting.

Things got worse for Perkins as moments before half time, he was shown a harsh second yellow for apparent blocking on the Bedworth keeper after a corner.

With Rovers down to 10 men, the second half began with constant Bedworth pressure in the Moatmen’s half.

Gresley had the first real chance of the second half as Leachman-Whittingham’s 35 yard free kick came agonisingly close to hitting the top corner just before the 60th minute.
Spruce had a great chance minutes later to double the lead after some good work by Jonathon Letford, who found himself in the Bedworth box, and pulled it back to Spruce who’s shot just went past Lomax’s post.

The best clear cut chances for Bedworth fell after the 65th minute as Bertie found Liam Murphy through on goal, but Fenney made himself big and stopped a certain goal.

Bedworth continued to pile on the pressure but with no real end product.

Rovers still looked dangerous on the break as Bedworth piled numbers up the pitch, with substitute Kieron Berry finding moments to push the Moatmen up the pitch.

In the dying moments of the game, Bedworth nearly found an equaliser as Fenney pulled off some instinctive saves and Ryan Moore’s follow up shot whistles past the post.