GRESLEY ROVERS 3-1 EASTWOOD CFC

Gresey Rovers......3 (Hart 44'and 78', Lee 73')
Eastwood CFC .....1 (Parton 52')

Despite matching their hosts for the majority of the game Eastwood were outdone by 2 strikes from Stephen Hart.

Gresley are always difficult opponents, particularly on their own patch and so it proved in a tough encounter at the Moat Ground.

Two goals from Gresley’s frontman and veteran striker Steve Hart and a first goal of the season for Kane Lee saw Rovers claim a vital three points but they were made to fight all the way by an uncompromising Eastwood team who battled to the final whistle..

Rovers started the game positively and could have been ahead after just five minutes. Alby Lansdowne’s effort was blocked, the ball fell to Hart just yards from the goal-line, but the striker was somehow denied by a decent stop from Mark Rathbone.

Eastwood continued to keep the lively Rovers forwards at bay and they were threatened themselves as they loaded the Gresley box with set pieces. In the 19th minute, Gresley could once again have gone ahead. Lucas Harrison did well to pick out Hart at the back post, but his square ball to Dan Munday was just behind his fellow forward - the ball bounced away to safety.

In the 42nd minute, however, Gresley broke the deadlock. A long ball forward from George Clark was latched onto by Hart, and the striker raced away from the Eastwood defence and towards goal. Three defenders stood in his way but he managed to dance round outstretched legs and attempted tackles moving inside before rounding Rathbone and finding the bottom corner.

A slow start to the second half by the hosts but Eastwood were playing some of their best football, spurred on by some gritty midfield play from McKenna Parton and the excellent Sean Woolley, and deserved their equaliser at 52 minutes. Blair Anderson showed some neat control to touch down a long ball out of defence before finding his way to the edge of the box. Chopping inside Clark, he took the shot on which Luke Fenney could only push partially to safety. Parton pounced to finish off the rebound from about 8 yards out. No more than the visitors deserved. Eastwood, now with their tails up, went close a couple of times with Romello Nangle proving a thorn in the home defence's side.

Gresley were rattled by the leveller and Eastwood looked to take advantage, but they couldn’t fashion out a real clear cut opportunity. As the half wore on, Rovers started to find their feet again, and in the 73rd minute they would go ahead for a second time. After a corner had partially been cleared, Hart recycled the ball back into the danger area. His cross was punched away by Rathbone, but only as far as Lee who stabbed home for the go-ahead goal.

The visitors still managed a few half chance but Fenney and his defenders repelled all the worthwhile efforts of Nangle and Moussa Cisse. Five minutes later, Gresley extended their lead as they took firm hold on the game. Midfielder Albie Lansdowne saw Hart on a forward run and his pinpoint pass was meat and drink for the ace Marksman as the striker stroked the ball past Rathbone to seal maximum points for the Moatmen.

A late sin-bin of goal scorer Parton did not aid Eastwood’s task as they looked to get back into the game and the visitors, for all their endeavour, failed to find any more to trouble the Gresley back-line.

The Gaffre's thoughts post match ~

“No one expected us to go there and get anything - we know Gresley are a good side"
"But after an hour at 1-1, I think we were on top and gifted the game away which was frustrating. But there were plenty of positives to take.
Gresley are a top three/top four side and we more than matched them. I felt we deserved something from the game over the 90 minutes, but that's not how football works. Ultimately, that's why they are up there. It just comes down to individual errors. That was the difference.
Gresley are exactly where we need to be – it was the same when we played Loughborough. They know what the league is about and we are probably a little bit naïve at the minute. Now Saturday is a big one playing a team that is in and around us at home which we have earmarked for points"

Attendence ~ 162
Referee ~ Wayne Gray
Assistants ~ Alan Parker and Al Dexter

Gresley Rovers ~ Lewis Fenny, George Clark, Lucas Harrison, Alby Lansdowne, Mason Frizelle, Alex Morris, Michael Williams, Ryan Seal (c) (Lee Butler 74') Kane Lee (Kelvin Kasongo 83') Steve Hart (Louis Briscoe 79') Danny Munday.
Unused Substitutes ~ Connor Ward, Brad Daley.
Caution ~ Lucas Harrison (82' foul)

Eastwood CFC ~ Mark Rathbone, Callum Jones, Jack Andrews (c) Dean Freeman, Jahren Barrow,
Jermaine Hollis, McKenna Parton, Sean Woolley, Moussa Cisse, Romello Nangle (Finn Hunter 74') Blair Anderson
Unused substitute ~ David Leak.
Cautions ~ Woolley (6' foul) Parton (79' dissent)