Gresley Rovers vs Atherstone United
Fearn spot kick blunder - Rex Page - Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers, shorn of virtually their entire first team by injuries and holidays, came unexpectedly close to a share of one of football's more obscure pieces of silver ware at the Moat Ground on Saturday.
Atherstone, eagerly preparing for life in the Beazer Homes Premier Division, came perilously close to releasing their grip on the Frank Tomlin Trophy when defender Steve Jackson clumsily presented Rovers with the chance of an 86th minute equaliser.
Cec Wain's menacing cross exploited generous space in the Adders' area, but Andy Maddocks was denied the satisfaction of a goal against his old club by Jackson's hefty push in the back.
Walton referee George Stones rightly pointed to the spot - only for midfielder Graham Fearn to drive the penalty too straight, allowing Lee Spencer to complete a relatively easy save.
So, justice was seen to be done for the Adders had been comfortably the better side, though Rovers boss Frank Northwood was perfectly correct to illuminate the varying strength - or lack of it - of the two sides.
"Considering we had ten first-team squad men missing I thought we did well because they were only a couple of players short of full strength," said Northwood.
Rovers, indeed, worked hard on a hot afternoon to compensate for their deficiencies. Ultimately, though, the extent of Atherstone's victory was dictated not by the stubbornness of the Gresley defence but a wayward and over-indulgent visitors' attack.
Andy Rammell should have opened the floodgates when he met a Hugh Ledgister's cross to head the Adders in front in the 17th minute.
But the pair were the principal culprits as Atherstone squandered a procession of chances, punctuated only by an explosive piece of work from Maddocks which ended with his left-foot shot thumping against the inside of the post.
The game inevitably lost its shape and purpose when both managers embarked on a series of substitutions after the interval, reminding the surprisingly large crowd that this was after all a pre-season practise match in disguise.
Rovers enjoyed another escape when Rammell hit the woodwork and, more than once, the anticipation and safe hands of Bob Aston also kept the Adders attack at bay.
Gresley Rovers (0) 0
Atherstone United (1) 1
Scorer: Rammell 17.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Turner, Lovell, Pickering, Guest, Dearne, Wood, Fearn, Cant, Maddocks, Adcock.
Atherstone United: Spencer, Haynes, Smithers, Olner, Dixey, Jackson, Smith, Rammell, Randle, Ledgister, Lewis.
Referee: G Stones (Walton).
Attendance: 251
