Five-star Gresley banish Nomads

GOALS from Mickey Lyons, Jamie Barrett, Carl Slater, Royce Turville and Brian Woodall ensured a comfortable win for Gresley FC over struggling Anstey Nomads.

And it was only a sterling display from the visiting keeper Dan Hanley that kept the score from being a much wider margin.

Anstey were forced on to the back foot right from the first whistle with Lyons, Martin Gadsby and Jordi Gough all going close in the first three minutes.

Turville was unlucky to see his shot hit the side netting as he forced himself into the box and then Woodall’s on target shot was deflected for a corner with the defender not knowing anything about it.

On 17 minutes Gresley were shown that they couldn’t take things for granted when a poor header fell for Warren York who burst forward only to be denied by a superbly timed tackle from Barrett just inside the area.

Although Gresley had dominated the opening period it took until the 30 minute mark before they breeched the Nomads defence. A great exchange between Woodall and Lyons ended with Lyons hitting a low shot that beat Hanley.

Hanley then produced the first of numerous good saves to deny Lyons an identical goal but this time the keeper got down very well to push the ball away for a corner.

Gresley ............................5 Anstey Nomads ............. 0 Gresley doubled their tally on 33 minutes when Turville’s run down the right ended with him picking out Barrett who smashed the ball home from close in.

It was then the turn of skipper Slater to get on the score sheet with three minutes left of the first half. Collecting a free kick from Lyons he took one step forward and unleashed a vicious dipping shot from 25 yards that deceived Hanley flying over his head and into the roof of the net.

Hanley made a good save from Gareth Langford’s powerful header after Matt Hill had swung in the corner.

And Nomads had Hanley to thank again as Gresley threatened his goal in the remaining seconds of the first half. He made a save diving to his left to push Turville’s shot away and then spectacularly tipped Woodall’s stinging shot over the bar.

Gresley were on top straight from the start of the second period with Lyons hitting a shot just wide but on 53 minutes they increased their lead.

A good move that started from defence saw Woodall race down the right and then sent in a really inviting ball into the box where Turville met it with a diving header past Hanley.

The fifth goal came seven minutes later when Slater fed a superb pass to Woodall through the middle and from 25 yards he fired an absolute screamer that left Hanley a mere spectator.

Gresley had several more chances to add to the score with Woodall going just wide, Lyons being denied by Hanley and both Turville and substitute Rob Spencer shooting wide.

Hanley yet again denied Gresley goals by producing a fine save from Spencer and then from substitute Stefan Marshall.

GOALS: Lyons 30, Barrett 33, Slater 42, Turville 53, Woodall 60 GRESLEY: Hateley, Hill, Powell, Langford, Barrett, Slater (c), Lyons, Gadsby (A Betteridge 77), Turville (Marshall 71), Woodall, Gough (Spencer 57); sub not used: Weightman.

NOMADS: Hanley, York, Helps, Pen (c), Stafford (Price 67), Millins (Paston 73), Neal, Hogan, Ward, York, Sutton (Kanwar 11); subs not used: Barnes, Pugh.

BOOKING: Price (Nomads).

REFEREE: Mr K Marchant ATTENDANCE: 212