Gresley Rovers vs Billingham Town
Heroes all on Wembley way – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Gresley moved closer to a Wembley final than ever before in their 108-year history with a memorable victory over Billingham Town at the Moat Ground on Saturday.
Classically executed goals before and after half time were just enough to despatch the impressive Teesiders – but Rovers were made to battle all the way when Billingham pulled back a late goal to set up a gripping finale.
Manager Frank Northwood praised “a great team performance” but singled out “outstanding” Richard Denby after the midfielder laid on one goal and struck another in superb style.
Northwood also recognised that the contribution of keeper Tony Moore was crucial saying: “Tony was superb.”
Moore’s goal was under threat from the off as Billingham set off at a sprint, defender Gil Land earning a second-minute booking for felling winger Stuart Jewson.
And with just 14 minutes gone, Steve Astley had to produce a superb goal line clearance – sweeping Brian McHale’s angled drive out of the bottom corner and back into Moore’s hands – to deny Billingham the lead.
With both sides committed to an attacking game there was plenty to keep Gresley’s biggest crowd of the season on their toes and Denby was inches away from putting Gresley ahead when a left foot drive from fully 20 yards came back off the foot of a post.
There were four more bookings as referee Grandidge stamped his no nonsense approach on a game that was never remotely dirty – but no goals until four minutes from half time.
Then Denby fired a free kick near the right flank of such power and precision that Carl Rathbone had merely to help it into the net at the near post.
On 63 minutes Denby stole centre stage again, shuffling past a defender on the edge of the box before despatching a whiplash left foot drive plucked from the soccer heavens.
It seemed Billingham might finally lie down and die but substitute Christopher Lax breathed new life into their challenge. Barely had the winger entered the fray when his close range shot came back off the post.
The rampant McHale burst through only to be denied by a brave save by Moore before Lax returned a half-cleared corner into the six-yard box for the unmarked striker to volley home.
It meant a nail-biting last12 minutes for Gresley but they gritted their teeth to ensure a stirring win.
Gresley Rovers (1) 2
Billingham Town (0) 1
Scorers: Rathbone 41, Denby 63 (Gresley Rovers), McHale 78 (Billingham Town).
Gresley Rovers: Moore, Barry, Elliott, Denby, Land, Astley, Weston, K Smith, Acklam (Stokes 85), Rathbone, Lovell. Sub not used: Beresford.
Billingham Town: Harrison, Oakley, Corkain, Watson, Dixon, Smith, Jewson, Rowntree, McHale, McCann, Martin (Lax 73). Sub not used: McCreesh.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Richard Denby.
Referee: G I Grandidge (Cottingham).
Attendance: 722
