Harrisons STS vs Gresley Rovers
Harrisons smash-and-grab – Rex Page – Burton Mail
A team tree-weeks away from oblivion inflicted more serious damage on Gresley Rovers’ Banks’s League title dream at Great Wyrley last night.
Harrisons, who put up the shutters and go out of business next month, left their indelible mark on an increasingly frantic chase for honours by adding Gresley’s scalp to that of Hinckley Town, another championship contender, who were beaten at Hazel Lane on Monday.
Rovers were left to dwell on another wasted opportunity when Andy Jones snatched the winner with virtually Harrisons only shot of the goal in the 74th minute.
Beaten boss Frank Northwood immediately turned his anger on frustration on referee Brian Watkiss, who highlighted an erratic performance by rejecting two Gresley appeals for penalties with the scoresheet still blank.
But much of the blame had to be laid at Gresley’s own feet as they failed to profit from their total control of the game, probably amounting to as much as 80 per cent of the play.
Good approach work more often than not was spoiled by poor crossing and stray final passes, forcing the goals to dry up suddenly after their seven-goal spree over the weekend.
The first half provided a relentless tide of Rovers pressure, but it took them 28 minutes to find the first crack in a home defence expertly marshalled by Stuart Meeson.
Trace Norton cleverly exchanged passes on the edge of the area with Brian Beresford whose low shot was parried by John Peace to signal the start of Gresley’s best spell of the game.
Norton, set up by overlapping Martin Dick, thumped a left foot shot against the angle of bar and post and then John Barry fired agonisingly wide after being sent clear by Beresford.
As chances continued to go begging, Norton had a low shot turned round a post by the overworked Peace.
The pattern of the game barely altered after the interval, but Gresley became more anxious as the half progressed and were infuriated when in the space of ten minutes Beresford was sent tumbling first by Warren Waterfield and then by Meeson, the referee over-ruling their penalty pleas on both occasions.
Worse, still, Harrisons stole in front with a smash-and-grab raid 16 minutes from time. Spencer Bradbury’s through ball caught Gresley short of cover and Jones could hardly believe his eyes when his 15-yard shot flew past Bob Aston.
Gresley threw everyone forward in a desperate attempt to salvage a point, but their best chance disappeared two minutes from time when Norton volleyed over substitute Derek Christopher’s cross.
Harrisons (0) 1
Gresley Rovers (0) 0
Scorer: Jones 74.
Harrisons: Peace, McLeod (56), Hill, Raybould, Waterfield, Bradbury, Secker, Jones, Tonks, Meeson, Oakley. Sub not used: Dobson.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Bottomley, Dick, Denby, Land, Astley, Barry (Christopher 77), Norton, Smith, Beresford, Lovell. Sub not used: Edmunds.
Gresley man-of-the-match: John Bottomley.
Referee: B Watkiss (Wolverhampton).
Attendance: 120
