A HAT-TRICK from Brian Woodall and a late goal from Rob Spencer ensured what was in the end a very comfortable win for Gresley FC over Quorn in saturday’s FA Cup Preliminary Round tie.
Gresley looked the more determined of the two sides in the early moments and took a deserved 16th-minute lead.
Liam Hebberd’s hard work in front of the area paid off as he managed to push the ball through to Woodall whose first attempt was blocked.
However, he reacted like lightening and regained his footing to blast the rebound past helpless Quorn keeper Matt Nurse.
Two minutes later, Woodall was testing him again, but the keeper did well to hold onto a low shot after the Gresley front man had expertly held off his marker before shooting.
Quorn were all sixes and sevens and had no answer to the passing and movement of the home side.
Mickey Lyons made a run down the right and flashed a shot across the goal mouth and past the far post.
It wasn’t until the final five minutes of the half that Quorn had their solitary attempt on goal, when Kris Nurse turned on the edge of the area, but his shot was pushed away easily by Gary Hateley for a corner.
In Tuesday’s visit to Greenwood in midweek, Gresley were constantly playing the long, high ball, much to the management’s frustration — but today it was one such kick that brought Gresley’s second goal with just minutes remaining of the half.
Hateley launched a route one ball that Woodall superbly controlled on the edge of the area and, after beating his marker and the keeper, slammed the ball home.
As to be expected, Quorn came out looking far more determined and Ash Robinson hit a shot wide after just two minutes of the second half starting.
But their spell lasted just 10 minutes before Gresley were back threatening the visitors’ goal.
On 62 minutes, the Moatmen were awarded a free kick on the right almost by the corner flag.
Woodall whipped in the kick and Tom Land met it perfectly on the far side, but Matt Nurse made a terrific reaction save to block the header and another goal.
Gresley were clearly on top and forced three corners in succession before Quorn finally ventured out of their half.
On 73 minutes Tom Byrne saw Hateley off his line and tried a chip that sailed over the bar.
Four minutes later Quorn were reduced to 10 men.
Awarded a throw-in on the right, Robinson tried to gain five yards by moving up the line to take the throw.
Spencer objected and touched the ball away, only to have it thrown back at him by a petulant Robinson.
Referee Andrew Fox showed Spencer a yellow card, but Robinson was shown a straight red for his retaliation.
On 80 minutes Lyons was denied a goal when he delicately chipped Matt Nurse, only to see the ball come back off the base of the far post.
Spencer reacted quickly to the rebound and cut inside former Moatman Chris Gray, but the final shot scraped the wrong side of the upright.
The game was as good as over on 88 minutes when Carl Slater burst into the box, only to be brought down by Matt Nurse giving the referee no option but to point to the spot.
Quorn substitute Anthony Marriott was yellow carded for his protests and the keeper could consider himself very fortunate not to have followed Robinson into the dressing room for bringing Slater down.
Woodall claimed the kick and gave the keeper no chance, blasting the ball down the middle to complete his hat-trick.
Quorn were clearly a well beaten side, and the proof came in time added on at the end of the game.
Tom Betteridge raced down the right, easily beating the defence before sending a low cross into the box that Spencer met smashing the ball home giving the scoreline a more realistic look.
GRESLEY: Hateley, T Betteridge, Gough, Land, Barrett, Slater (c), Lyons (Hanslow 90), Hebberd (Sutton 72), Woodall, Langford (A Betteridge 66), Spencer; subs not used: Coulson, Bate.
QUORN: M Nurse, Wood, Purton (Lonsdale 45), Marshall, Lyall, Gray (c), Darby (Marriott 45), Robinson, K Nurse, Turner (White 56), Byrne; sub not used: Shaw.
BOOKINGS: Spencer (Gresley); Gray, Marriott (Quorn).
SENDING OFF: Robinson (Quorn).
REFEREE: Andrew Fox (Coventry).
ATTENDANCE: 203.
