Hinckley United vs Gresley Rovers
Hinckley Utd Reserves 3 - 1 Gresley Rovers Reserves
Rovers Reserves lost out in disappointing fashion despite dominating this fixture for long periods but failing to take chances when they came. Rovers started brightly early on with some neat passing moves stretching the Hinckley
defence all over the place. Ravhi Sangha went close on 12 minutes after good work in midfield by Tim Pole had created the chance. Sangha rounded the home keeper before firing in a weak shot that was easily cleared off the line.
Five minutes later, another flowing move involving at least 15 passes resulted in Earl Alexander being released down the left. He then found Danny Lonergan on the edge of the box but his shot was blazed over the bar.
Tim Pole's mazy run down the right after 22 minutes almost broke the deadlock when his cross come shot ended up hitting the crossbar before being cleared to safety.
The second half started in similar fashion, Man of the Match, Carl Timms releasing Sangha one on one with the keeper but the frontman shot tamely wide when well place to score.
Hinckley's spell of pressure was bound to come and after 51 minutes, against the run of play, they took the lead after some sloppy play in the Rovers defence. Rovers fought back well and equalised three minutes later when Danny Lonergan scored direct from a corner, despite claims from Sangha that it was his goal.
The game was more open now with both sides going for it and the game hinged on one moment midway through the second half. Great play in midfield from Carl Timms broke up a Hinckley attack and the young midfielder set off on a mazy run into the Hinckley half exchanging neat passes before finding Lonergan on the right.
Lonergan's cross to the nearpost was met perfectly by Timms but the Hinckley keeper pulled of a superb point blank save but no Rover player could get to the rebound. The ball was cleared quickly and caught out the Rovers midfield pushing forward. Hinckley took advantage of this and scored on the break to make it 2-1 less than 15 seconds after it should have been 2-1 the other way. As Rovers pushed to get back into the game, plently of chances for both sides came and went. A misplaced kick in the last minute by Ian Roberts in
the Rovers goal gifted Hinckley their third goal.
Team: Roberts, Withers, Grosse, Evans, Webster, Lonergan, Timms, Pole, Alexander,
Sangha, Yearsley Subs Wagstaff, G Smith, Geohegan.
