Gresley Rovers vs Halesowen Town
Ref blackens Gresley’s day – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Referee Roger King was at the centre of controversy for the second time this season as Paul Joinson’s late leveller deprived Gresley Rovers two points at the Moat Ground on Saturday.
King, whose performance at Gloucester earlier in the season had both side in uproar, enraged Rovers on this occasion with a string of dubious decisions, the most outrageous of which – to add almost six minutes to the end of the game – was an expensive one for Gresley.
Four-and-a-half minutes of added time had gone when Joinson grabbed Town’s equaliser, with Moat fans complaining afterwards – and not without justification – that there had been nowhere near enough stoppages to merit such an extravagant extension of the game.
And while Halesowen applauded the official from the pitch Rovers boss Steve Dolby must have uttered the odd oath beneath his breath after seeing his reshuffled side come close to a much-needed win.
With seven players sidelined Dolby pitched former Derby County reservist Colin Loss in for his debut in midfield, gave Christian Moore his first full appearance of the season upfront and retained Mark Blount at right back, all three justifying their selections with impressive performances.
Yet it was established striker Martin Devaney who provided Rovers’ highlight with a sweetly delivered 40th-minute goal, a left footed strike from Mark Hurst’s neat lay-off that flew into the top of the Town net from 16 yards.
The goal gave Rovers a deserved lead for, after a hesitant opening period in which Graeme Rigg almost headed former Burton Albion winger Ian Brown’s free kick past his own keeper – Bob Aston producing an excellent save – Rovers had come into their own with a performance that gave Dolby just the improvement he had sought after the previous week’s FA Trophy debacle.
Moore then forced Yeltz keeper Tony Rowe to produce a superb save when he deflected Craig Weston’s measured shot towards the top corner – an offside flag devaluing the moment – then Devaney exchanged passes with Hurst only for Town skipper Eric Smith to prevent a certain goal with a last ditch clearance.
Also for Rovers, they failed to maintain their momentum after the break and Joinson first set up the unmarked Adam Patrick to shoot disappointingly off target from 15 yards, then astonishingly fired against the crossbar after Brown’s flick-on had left him with an open goal.
Halesowen controlled much of the half despite Moore’s persistence up front and an improved defensive showing, but Gresley seemed to have points in the bag until an 11th hour lapse in concentration allowed Joinson to escape unmarked onto John Snape’s pass and stun the Moat Ground with a cross shot from the left of the box that beat Aston’s dive.
Gresley Rovers (1) 1
Halesowen Town (0) 1
Scorers: Devaney 40 (Gresley Rovers); Joinson 94 (Halesowen Town).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Blount, Swainston, Rigg, Stanborough, Land, Weston, Loss, Moore, Devaney (Osborne 63), Hurst (Wardle 75).
Halesowen Town: Rowe, Bradley, Smith, Bettles, Snape, Jones (Wilkinson 68), Hazlewood, Patrick, Gocan (Richards 80), Joinson, Brown.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Mark Blount.
Referee: RW King (Worcester).
Attendance: 737
