Gresley Rovers vs Halesowen Harriers
Moatmen come unstuck – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
If anyone was going to upset the Gresley applecart, it had to be Halesowen Harriers.
The scenario was perfect. Halesowen on a run, with 20 goals netted in three games, Rovers riding for a fall with no league defeat since October, and never having beaten Harriers at the Moat Ground.
“I suppose you could say they’re our bogey side,” groaned Rovers boss Frank Northwood afterwards.
Northwood, though, was not too despondent. His team had certainly done enough to win, as he was quick to point out, but a combination of good goalkeeping and unfortunate finishing during a second half blitz on the Harriers goal ensued that two goals in three suicidal first half minutes were enough to consign Gresley to only their second defeat of the season.
Northwood was quick, too, to defend new boy Derek Christopher who belied his reputation as a lethal finisher by missing enough chances to have won the game single-handed for Rovers. “He was unlucky today. I’m sure he’ll turn out to be a good signing,” he said.
Gresley’s commitment to test Harriers’ suspect defence was apparent from the off yet, despite their pressure, it was the home side who breathed the first big sigh of relief when Adrian Cooper took advantage of slips by Steve Astley and Carl Nicklin to break clear on the right and force keeper Bob Aston to save with his feet.
Then the keeper distinguished himself again with a terrific one-handed save from Toby Hall ‘s 18-yard shot after a left wing free kick had not been properly cleared.
Richard Denby set up Christopher for a header over the bar then shot over himself from 18-yards after Paul Acklam had laid on a chance but Gresley’s forward impetus caught them out on 24 minutes, Hall breaking clear on the right for a centre that Nicholls despatched with pace and power from the edge of the penalty box.
Three minutes later it became clear that Gresley had not learned from their mistake when Hall capitalised on a right wing mix-up between Christopher and Peter Perry to break clear again and set up Ian Guise with a simple scoring chance from eight yards, the Gresley defence noticeably absent.
The story of the rest of the game is one of Gresley pushing forward with little reward. Tracey Norton was the one man on the mark with a vicious, angled drive on 52 minutes.
Christopher may have been unsighted when he completely missed his header from Kieron Smith’s superb cross five minutes from the break but there was nowhere to point the finger when he shot over just after the restart after a splendid series of exchanges with Paul Acklam and Norton.
Gresley’s goal came when keeper Colin Baldock failed to hold Steve Astley’s 20-yard free kick, Acklam lashing a shot across the face of the goal and Norton showing poise and single-mindedness to control and drive the ball home.
Christopher put another difficult chance over after the keeper had failed to hold Nicklins’ fierce 18-yarder, Smith put a header just wide, then Gil Land saw a fierce ground shot superbly saved.
Norton headed over, Land saw another meaty effort saved then, at the ideal moment for redemption, Christopher saw a long effort clawed away only for Acklam to hit the side netting as Harriers failed to clear.
In between, though, there was more splendid keeping from Aston at the other end and a clear penalty denied the visitors by referee Singh as Gresley found their very best efforts were, on this occasion, not quite good enough.
Gresley Rovers (0) 1
Halesowen Harriers (2) 2
Scorers: Norton 52 (Gresley Rovers); Nicholls 24, Guise 27 (Halesowen Harriers).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Nicklin, Perry, Denby, Land, Astley, Guest, Norton, Acklam, K Smith, Christopher. Subs not used: Maddocks, Lovell.
Halesowen Harriers: Baldock, Williams, Thomas, Tomlinson, Siviter (Henley 85), Green, Guise, Nicholls, Hall, Madely, Cooper. Sub not used: J Smith.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Bob Aston.
Referee: G Singh (Wednesfield).
Attendance: 337
