Worksop Town vs Gresley Rovers
Injuries cripple Rovers – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Gresley’s hopes of an FA Cup adventure foundered disappointingly at the temporary Gainsborough home of the HFS Loans Division One leaders.
With their unbeaten record left in tatters, Rovers were left to reflect on what might have been after a classic game of two halves.
Gresley seemed intent on committing cup hiri kiri in a first half in which Worksop were permitted time and space they can hardly be accustomed to.
Only after a half time rollicking from manager Frank Northwood did they show the character and commitment necessary to bring the tie back to Gresley. But when Worksop struck a second, very much against the run of play goal, the task became too much.
In the end a series of injury-enforced reshuffles proved too crippling a disability and Northwood faces a worrying prelude to tomorrow’s Banks’s League top-of-the-table clash with Ilkeston.
Rovers were harbouring hopes of more exotic and exciting fixtures until Worksop struck a 22nd minute opener.
John Bottomley clumsily impeded Clark near the right corner of the penalty area and a quickly taken free kick and exchange of passes between Jason Maybury and Carl Hutchinson ended with midfielder Dave Moss crashing home a shot from point blank range.
Worksop profited from a long period of defending by breaking away to score in the second half, full back Chris James doing the spadework down the right flank and Hutchinson firing home after Clark had forced his way past Aston’s attempt to block the ball and shoot against the post.
Mick Haynes’ eagerness restored flickering hopes of a reply, the substitute nipping onto a short backpass to reduce the arrears, but while Gresley continued to make the running there was no other chink in the Worksop armour.
Worksop Town (1) 2
Gresley Rovers (0) 1
Scorers: Moss 22, Hutchinson 65 (Worksop Town); Haynes 85 (Gresley Rovers).
Worksop Town: Norton, James, Cunnington, Moss, Fowler, Mitchell, Newman (Goodison 55), Rinkcavage, Hutchinson, Clark, Maybury. Sub not used: Morris.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Bottomley (Lovell 45 (Haynes 79)), Dick, Stokes, Land, Astley, Moore, Smith, Maddocks, Beresford, Elliott.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Gil Land.
Referee: A S Breckell (Accrington).
Attendance: 161
