Reserves step up but leaders are too strong

MANAGERLESS Gresley had to turn to their reserves to help field a team against Evo-Stik East leaders Morpeth Town.

And although the youngsters showed plenty of grit and determination, the Moatmen still slid to a 3-0 home defeat to continue A winless run in the league WHICH stretches back to October 6.

This was Gresley’s first game since Gary Norton stepped down as manager following the 5-1 home defeat against Belper Town on New Year’s Day.

Since then, four players - Dexter Morris-Clarke, James Jepson, Martyn Smyth and Tim Hopkinson have also left the club, while skipper Jamie Barrett has stepped down due to family reasons.

Caretaker-managers Carl Slater and John Williamson were also without Luke Morgan (injured) and Jake McIntosh (unavailable), while Lucas Harrison was on the bench but under the weather.

So reserve team players stepped up to face the leaders and they battled all the way.

But the Moatmen were soon on the back foot in the contest. Home keeper Oliver Fairbrother had to make an early save, while Chris Reid’s looping header hit the far post and bounced to safety.

The Highwaymen took the lead in the 20th minute. A ball into the Gresley area looked as if it was going to be cleared before Liam Henderson went down and, much to the home team’s dismay, the referee awarded a penalty, which was despatched by David Carson.

Morpeth’s second goal eight minutes later was also controversial. A corner from Ben Sayer was headed home by Michael Turner but the Morpeth player appeared to foul a Gresley defender.

Gresley were protesting again when Morpeth’s Wayne Phillips appeared to foul Fairbrother, the challenge was made with studs showing but the referee saw nothing wrong.

Morpeth were 3-0 ahead in the 38th minute when a low cross took a deflection off Fairbrother’s wrist before looping up for Liam Henderson to score.

The home side were unhappy with the referee again five minutes before the break when Connor Ward was booked. Before the yellow card was shown, Morpeth’s Sam Hodgson pushed Ward but was not punished.

Fairbrother did well to deny Liam Henderson early in the second half, pushing his effort away for a corner.

And the Gresley keeper was quickly off his line to block when Liam Henderson raced clear.

Myles Botsfield and Harry Heartfield made their Gresley first team debuts in the second half and Heartfield went close in the 68th minute, hitting a fine long-range shot which flew narrowly wide.

Jack Foalle, who scored a hat-trick for Morpeth when they beat Gresley in October, had the last chance of the game, forcing another save from Fairbrother.

Gresley’s search for a new manager continues before their next league match, a trip to FACE Cleethorpes Town on Saturday. The club was hoping to put a shortlist together yesterday.

■■Report courtesy of www.gresleyfc.com.