Gresley Rovers vs Ilkeston Town
Rovers’ proud record tumbles – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers stepped up the workrate to match one of their most serious Banks’s League title challengers for graft last night – then failed to come up with enough quality that has become a more familiar hallmark of their game.
The Moatmen tore into high riding Ilkeston Town right from the off and were rewarded with a seventh minute goal by Kieron Smith.
But high-riding Town – led by former Scottish International Kenny Burns – showed their commitment to force Gresley back on their heels in an engrossing first half and snatched an equaliser early in the second period to put an end to Rovers’ 100 per cent league record.
With new boy Jason Minton looking a tailor made replacement for injured skipper Richard Denby and Stuart Stokes adding an incisive bite to the middle of the park the home side gave their guests a searching examination in the opening stages.
And when John Barry’s probing down the right enabled Andy Moore to send a looping cross into the Ilkeston box Smith stooped to send a close range header past flailing Town keeper Cameron Miles.
Ilkeston hit back with deadly intent and proceeded to take a points verdict on the remainder of the half.
Tricky winger Dave Millington headed across the face of Bob Aston’s goal after Stuart Wiggins had headed on Burns free kick and, after gangling centre half Peter Farrow had been allowed to eat up yards of empty midfield space, centre forward Tony Kidd sounded more alarm bells with a shot on the turn that passed inches the wrong side of Aston’s left post.
Martin Dick cleared hastily from Wiggins, put through by a superb Julian Garmston through ball, then Aston had to get up well at his far post after Millington’s driven cross from the left threatened to curl into the top corner.
Gresley’s unblemished disciplinary record finally came to an end when Smith was harshly booked by Lichfield referee Brandwood, although Scott Elliott could have no complaints when he became the second Rovers player to have his name taken after an utterly reckless challenge on full back David Markham.
Indeed, Gresley could even consider themselves fortunate still to have 11 men on the field when they created a golden opportunity to bank all three points on the stroke of half time.
Andy Maddocks and Minton worked the ball down the right and Smith fired in a cross that found Moore unmarked at the far post but he fired a shot high over the bar with a gaping target to aim at.
Six minutes after the break Rovers were to rue the miss. Steve Baldwin taunted and tormented Barry on Town’s left wing before whipping in a near post cross that Wiggins glanced into the far corner of Aston’s net.
Strangely, Ilkeston’s threat began to subside after that and Gresley enjoyed enough possession to challenge to restore their lead.
Alas, good approach work on the right – notably through Maddocks and Barry – was not matched by the sort of crosses that would have troubled Miles and Gresley’s only moment of excitement was when full back David Bevan appeared to clearly block Maddock’s cross with his arms only for Mr Brandwood to wave play on.
Gresley Rovers (1) 1
Ilkeston Town (1) 1
Scorers: Smith 7 (Gresley Rovers); Wiggins 51 (Ilkeston Town).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Barry, Dick, Minton, Land, Astley, Moore, Smith, Maddocks, Stokes, Elliott. Subs not used: Haynes, Lovell.
Ilkeston Town: Miles, Markham, Beavan, Burns, Farrow, Flint, Wiggins, Garmston, Kidd, Millington, Baldwin. Subs not used: Scattergood, Stevenson.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Steve Astley.
Referee: J Brandwood (Lichfield).
Attendance: 564
