Paget Rangers vs Gresley Rovers
Sunk without trace - Andy Parker - Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers started the 1989-90 season well qualified as Vase contenders, with a record "that made them respect us," manager Frank Northwood said recently.
But while Rovers have made a blistering start to their league campaign, a toll of shortcomings, down at the very least to weight of injuries, has lately put them on a downturn.
And though they were capable of despatching Paget 3-1 at Springfield Road in August, Rovers found those shortcomings exposed last night and were always clutching at their hosts shirt-tails.
Keeper Bob Aston, at his impeccable best, kept a third round visit to Heanor Town within reach for nearly an hour before the Paget tide washed Rovers' Wembley dreams away.
Injury to striker Tracey Norton within the opening half hour was not the best of starts, but Gresley knuckled down well enough to their task in the opening stages.
Paul Acklam almost finished off a move sparked by Richard Denby and Neil Lovell and created another half opening for Steve Snaith with a determined run down the centre.
Already, though, Aston had saved smartly from Derek Christopher and was called upon again when Patrick Williams beat Gil Land in the air.
Williams then contrived to miss the most glaring of chances, heading wide from six yards, before Whipps repeated the sin and midfielder John Capaldi crashed a free kick thunderously against the crossbar.
Gresley were clinging to life but, improbably, took the lead seven minutes after the restart. Lovell looping a shot over the flailing John Heath after Denby's free kick had been only half cleared.
Yet again, though, Gresley were unable to hold onto their lead. Christopher burst into the box, Michael Guest challenged and referee Stretton pointed to the spot. Said Northwood later: "Guest swore he never touched him."
Paget's surge was unstoppable, though, and when the unfortunate Guest was troubled again by a booming through ball, Christopher darted in brilliantly to lift his shot over Aston.
With Acklam another casualty by now, Gresley's cause was a lost one. Aston denied Paget with more superb goalkeeping but when sweeper Steve Astley joined a late forward surge Christopher broke away to complete his hat trick, shooting imperiously past an exposed keeper.
Brian Beresford's failure to net a point blank header seemed academic with injury time wearing on but, astonishingly, it seemed a crucial miss when Andy Maddocks knocked in Gil Land's free kick three minutes later.
Paget Rangers (0) 3
Gresley Rovers (0) 2
Scorers: Christopher 55 (pen), 70, 92 (Paget Rangers); Lovell 52, Maddocks 97 (Gresley Rovers).
Paget Rangers: Heath, G Williams, Darkes, Snowball, Taylor, Capaldi, Skalley, Whipps (Burroughs 94), Sandiford, Christopher, P Williams. Sub not used: Mulvey.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Guest, Perry, Denby, Land, Astley, Snaith, Norton (Beresford 29), Maddocks, Acklam (Dearn 67), Lovell.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Bob Aston.
Referee: F G Stretton (Leicester).
Attendance: 210
