Gresley Rovers vs Raunds Town
Rovers better for the break – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Gresley took their place in today’s FA Vase fourth round draw after shaking off first half unease to end up convincing winners over United Counties League Raunds Town.
In a game destroyed as a spectacle by thick fog that ultimately threatened its late abandonment, goals from Gill Land and Paul Acklam in the space of 10 second half minutes made an injury-time reply from the Northamptonshire side purely a consolation.
Both side had their chances to make their mark on the game in the first half with Neil Lovell flashing a header just off target and Kieron Smith seeing a close range header blocked on the line.
But while Gresley enjoyed a slim territorial advantage, Raunds had the clearer cut chances. Striker Stuart Beards shot poorly when clean through after just seven minutes and, after a lightening breakaway following Gresley pressure, Paul Murphy shot high and wide of an open goal from six yards.
Whatever went on in the Gresley changing room at half time, however, did the trick for the home side who piled on the pressure for most of the second half. New boy Carl Rathbone, making an encouraging debut, put one chance over then shot past keeper Andy Webb only for the effort to be disallowed for outside.
Lovell shot just wide of a gaping target after a typically flowing attack, then Craig Weston, in one of his more impressive Gresley performances, set up Smith for a close range header that was brilliantly saved.
Smith was foiled again, this time from John Barry’s cross, but from the resulting corner Richard Denby’s kick was returned by Smith and half cleared to Land who fired home a low shot from 18 yards.
Webb saved brilliantly again from Rathbone before the former Tamworth striker provided a superb turn and cross from the right of the box that left Paul Acklam with a close range header that he efficiently buried past Webb.
Raunds staged a late rally but by the time substitute Simon Field forced home a close range shot Gresley’s name was already in the hat for a place in the last 32.
Gresley Rovers (0) 2
Raunds Town (0) 1
Scorers: Land 60, Acklam 70 (Gresley Rovers), Field 91 (Raunds Town)
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Barry, Elliott, Astley, Land, Denby, Weston, Smith, Acklam, Rathbone, Lovell. Subs not used: Bottomley, Adcock.
Raunds Town: Webb, Watson, Roche, King, Boatswain, Jordan (Field 64), Arundle, Beards, Lewis, Murray, McCabe. Sun not used: Blake.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Richard Denby.
Referee: B L Polkey (Nottingham).
Attendance: 329
