Tier 11 Pinxton had done remarkably well in getting so far in this competition. Their trip to Buxton in the previous round saw them knock out the tier 7 'Bucks', with the reward, tonight, of playing tier 8 Gresley at the Moat Ground. A plum semi-final tie awaited the winner, the chance to entertain tier 6 Alfreton Town who I had seen demolish Long Eaton United in their quarter-final two weeks earlier.
I took the relatively short trip to a bitterly cold South Derbyshire with my pin-badge collecting companion to witness this quarter-final clash. Prior to kick off my companion added the Gresley FC pin badge to his collection, whereas I was more concerned with my stomach and pie and chips.
The first half hour was a rather dull and cagey affair but no sooner had I said to my companion "I think it is going to be a long night with extra time", Gresley scored. Number 9, Guy, weaved his way through the middle, rounded the keeper and slotted the ball home. Pinxton were back level shortly before half-time. Gresley were unable to defend a short corner and as the ball bounced around the box a Pinxton attacker was able to latch onto it to bury it from 18 inches out.
The second-half started a lot more brightly that the first and Gresley began to show their class. Smyth grabbed a brace. His first came from a cross from the right and a calm header in the centre of the goal and the second came from a left wing cross which he sweetly crashed home from 14 yards.
Ball completed the rout in the 79th minute when he met a left wing cross from 7 yards out.
No comments:
Post a Comment