CLAY CROSS TOWN 2 GRESLEY ROVERS 3
UCL PREMIER NORTH @ MILL LANE
22 AUGUST 26 --- 3PM
Gresley Rovers left with all three points thanks to a brace from Sam Grouse and inflicted the third consecutive defeat on the early pacesetters in the UCL Premier North. Gresley with a round one of everything, win, draw and loss whereas in the league The Millers had three wins. However it had all gone wrong with two losses in the FA Cup and FA Vase affecting that early confidence and today it wasn't there again as Rovers took full advantage.
It was nice to catch up with one of today's assistant referee Andy Wood who I had not seen for a while and a few minutes with the officials always interesting to see their take on things all things refereeing wise.
So Clay Cross were desperately looking for a return to confidence and a visitors squad would be looking to get their season into full flight. The early stages saw the home side look more likely with some more direct play than in previous weeks it took Gresley a while to get a foothold in the proceedings. But it was Akeel Francis who was at this stage still awaiting his first goal for the home side since his close season signing looking most likely he drift a header wise from a cross off the left when he probably wasn't expecting it to get past his tight marking defender and then he pulled a ball back across the penalty box when he looked better suited to getting a shot away. He did though get a superb shot off storming into the penalty box but Rovers keeper Bradley Catlow stood firm to a strong effort. Indeed the number one had an excellent game never mind the first half when he also deflected away a couple of goalbound efforts with his legs.
Half time came and Clay Cross would regret those missed chances as an increasing threat from Gresley towards the end of the first half. It would though be the home side who would open the scoring and on 50 minutes the ball fell to Francis who took the ball to the right hand side of the box it drew Catlow and the confident slot home past number one and defender Callum Martin. The close season signing is now off the mark and hopefully the relief will help him onwards in the goal chart.
The talking point in the game came just a minute later when Brodie Litchfield was brought down by two players coming into him from either side, it was just outside the box but how referee Vayro waved it away remains unclear. But Gresley took advantage while the home side were left stunned and challenging the call the visitors stormed forward and Grouse scored a beauty with a low drive from just outside the box to level the scores.
Gresley were unleashed now and substitute Haydn Brown hit a sweet drive across the The Millers keeper only to see it fly back off the far post. But Gresley were not to be denied an extension to their lead and if the first goal was a beauty with keeper Dylan Wharton wandering away from his goal line Grouse, for his second, from a long way out spotted it and absolutely walloped the ball with serious intent over the keeper into the back of the net to make it 2-1.
Gresley nearly made it three after 86 minutes when the lively Brown who threatened so much got his deserved goal with the Clay Cross defence caught cold and statue like he ran on and rounded Wharton to slot into an empty goal.
Clay Cross were deflated and with just minutes to get through Gresley were invigorated not just by having the lead but by the quality of the finishes.
There was time in the fourth minute of time added on for Basille Zotus to get a second for The Millers to reduce the arrears. But it would not be enough as shortly afterwards the referee ended the action.
Good win for Gresley three pints that kick starts their season but for Clay Cross it leaves questions over the recent performances admittedly with a back line missing two to three players over these games.
A delighted Gresley would have an enjoyable trip back to South Derbyshire.
As ever there are a few more photos below to have a look through.
