Gresley go out of Trophy after late spot miss
GRESLEY wasted the chance to earn at least a replay when they missed a late penalty in their FA Trophy preliminary round defeat at home to Newcastle Town.
The Moatmen took the lead through Harry Lansdowne midway through the first half but they were behind midway through the second against Newcastle Town of the EvoStik West Division.
As they pressed for an equaliser, Gresley were awarded a penalty with four minutes to go but Alex Steadman’s spot kick was poorly struck and easily saved.
Kieran O’Connell was the first to go for goal with a low shot after four minutes but Ben Allsop, recalled from Stapenhill to replace the injured Jack Livesey in goal, was also tested early on by shots from Michael Conlon and James Steele.
After 20 minutes, Town went close when a deflection fell kindly for Chris Smith but the striker put his effort over the bar from seven yards.
Newcastle goalkeeper Matt Johnson was on top form to deny Kane Lee, tipping over a well-struck shot but he could not deny Gresley after 26 minutes when Mark Branch picked out Harry Lansdowne down the left and the youngster hit in his shot despite the close attention of a defender.
Lansdowne was close to doubling his and Gresley’s tally two minutes later when Branch broke free down the right and crossed deep but Lansdowne’s header went the wrong side of the post.
Newcastle took advantage of the strong wind to level after 34 minutes, when a long throw into the box was flicked over his shoulder by Matt Lowe, giving the Gresley keeper no chance.
Lucas Harrison went close to regaining the lead for Gresley just before the break but his looping cross from the left landed on the top of Johnson’s net.
A good move early in the second half by Gresley should have seen a better ending but Eric Graves’ shot hit the bar and Lee also went close, heading Branch’s corner just wide.
Town had a chance of their own after 54 minutes with Smith firing across the face of goal before Cameron Steele’s shot was deflected and dropped on to the top of the bar.
But Newcastle took the lead after 67 minutes when Conlon, with his back to goal inside the 18-yard box, turned and hit a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.
Callum Riddell, who replaced Steele, shot wide and Gresley were fuming after 81 minutes when Allsop took a free kick just outside his box which was flicked on to set substitute Steadman clear in the Town area but the referee’s whistle stopped him in his tracks as play was brought back for an apparent foul on Allsop as he took the free kick.
O’Connell forced Johnson into tipping his shot over the bar but the best Gresley chance came after 86 minutes when Branch’s shot was handled in the area by Josh Glover.
Newcastle keeper Johnson escaped punishment for moving the ball off the spot and a team-mate appeared to scuff the spot with his boot to delay the penalty from being taken. Whether or not the tactic unsettled Steadman, it was a poor spot kick.
Steadman missed another golden chance to take his side into a replay when Harrison cut the ball back and the striker could only shoot well over the bar from 10 yards.
Long-serving club stalwart Dave Hackett was remembered before the match by the placing of a wreath in the centre circle, followed by a minute’s applause.
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