Derbyshire Senior Cup 3rd Round
The Moat Ground
Tuesday, 6th December 2022, 7.45pm
Cup Win For Gresley
Gresley Rovers played their first game in the Derbyshire Senior Cup since September 2019 on a freezing damp evening at the Moat Ground against Northern Counties East Division One outfit Dronfield Town.
The home side started brightly putting a header wide with just a couple of minutes on the clock. Lewis Belgrave went close when his shot was palmed away for a corner by Town’s keeper Lewis Naylor. Rovers continued to press their advantage forcing the visitors back with Alex Morris planting a header past the post from a corner.
On 25 minutes Rovers were forced into a change when the injured Chris Camwell was replaced by Bakir Halil.
Just after the half-hour mark Rovers were in front. A great run down the right by James Spruce ended with an inviting ball into the box where Lewis Archer was waiting to accept the invitation slotting the ball home, his first goal for the club and warming the hardy few who turned up for the game.
Rovers almost doubled their advantage just before the break when Mason Frizelle threaded a ball into the stride of Archer, but his effort was well saved by Naylor.
The home side made another change for the start of the second half bringing on Nathaniel Graham for his debut in place of Jordi Gough.
Town had moments of putting Rovers under some real pressure for the first time in the game, but it was the home side who had the next chance when Spruce warmed the hands of Naylor with a shot after cutting in from the right,
Town made two changes on the hour replacing Matt Crowe and Callum Mawbey with Owen Lester and Ned Benson.
Another chance for Rovers came moments after the changes with Alex Morris flicking on the ball to Michael Williams whose shot was palmed away by Naylor.
The game was becoming very scrappy with the changes as the visitors made another change seconds later with Lewis Furness replacing Sam Bebbington.
Albi Lansdowne received the first yellow card as he prevented a possible breakaway but after repelling a corner Rovers went close again this time Morris headed Spruce’s corner wide.
On 70 minutes Rovers made three further changes to the two already made which is allowed in the Derbyshire Senior Cup this season, with Kieron Berry, back from injury after missing the last few games, Tatenda Chirata and Dylan Hunniford replacing Morris, Clark, and Lansdowne.
On 76 minutes Belgrave was unfortunate to see his deflected shot sail fractionally over the bar. From the resultant corner the ball was only half cleared and came out to Williams on the edge of the box and he fired in a shot which beat the keeper but was headed off the line and cleared.
Town’s one real chance of the night came from a quick break, but the final shot was straight into the arms of Rovers’ keeper Leon Phillips.
It was a frantic last ten minutes or so with Berry shot hitting the upright and Town going all out to try and force the game to penalties with Naylor going up for a corner late on.
With the referee somehow finding an extra seven minute of the game it was a relief when he finally blew his whistle to end the game.
