Gresley Rovers vs Chasetown
Rovers rescued by last gasp Gil - Andy Parker - Burton Mail
Gil Land's goal in the third minute of injury time spared Gresley from an unprecedented third consecutive defeat at the Moat Ground last night.
But the defender's deflected face-saver failed to conceal the fat that Gresley have hit a rut of poor form not dissimilar to those which have cost them the Banks's League title in previous seasons.
Manager Frank Northwood was forthright in his assessment of his side's latest disappointing performance.
"It was a disgusting show," he said afterwards. "We were very lucky to get a point. We gave away an atrocious goal and equalised with our only shot of the game." Northwood was correct on the former point, but not on the latter.
Midfielder Neil Lovell, thrust into an attacking position by the weight of Gresley's injury problems, brought a good save from Chasetown's outstanding keeper Andrew Withington in the sixth minute, saw a header saved on the line 20 minutes later and then headed a Richard Denby free kick against the foot of the post as Gresley threatened sporadically to breach the league's meanest defence in the first half.
But after the diminutive number 11 was inexplicably replaced at half time along with the injured Tracey Norton, Gresley, despite the hard running persistence of beanpole striker Andy Maddocks, could not make a dent in Chasetown's defensive armour, Withington's aerial dominance proving more than enough to snuff out Rovers' disjointed attacking offerings.
Substitute Paul Mabel was twice put through for opportunities to test the big keeper but shot dismally wide then provided a cross of similar quality. Fortunately for the former Borrowash frontrunner, the chance for redemption would arrive later.
Meanwhile, Chasetown took the lead with their only meaningful attack of the half. Colin Jackson, who had earlier given fair warning of his potential with some threatening first half runs on the right, beat the over-nonchalant Steve Astley and unmarked striker Mick Ward gobbled up his cross from inside the six yard box.
Impatience turned to frustration and gloom to despair as Rovers faced only their second league defeat this term.
Maddock's injury in a collision with skipper Denby was a pointer to just how badly things were going for Gresley.
But with injury time ticking away Mabel forced a corner on the left, took the kick himself and with Withington for once, flailing at empty space Land picked up a half clearance and saw his booming shot from the edge of the box take a wicked deflection before flying over the keeper's head and into the net.
Gresley Rovers (0) 1
Chasetown (0) 1
Scorers: Land 93 (Gresley Rovers); Ward 75 (Chasetown).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Bottomley, Perry, Denby, Land, Astley, Guest, Norton (Haynes 45), Maddocks, Nicklin, Lovell (Mabel 45).
Chasetown: Withington, Cox, Jones, Shelton, Richards, Johnson, Leak, Langston, Ward, Dixon (Rose 89), Harrison. Sub not used: Lane.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Richard Denby.
Referee: J G Smith (Stafford).
Attendance: 262
