Blakenall vs Gresley Rovers
Secret of Vase safe – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Saturday’s FA Vase opponents Knowsley sent their manager to watch Gresley’s Bank’s League Cup tie – but he witnessed a heavily disguised performance.
Against the robust challenge of Blakenall, Rovers showed uncharacteristic hesitancy in defence and a lack of attacking cohesion – especially in the first half as they battled up the home side’s notorious sloping pitch.
Manager Frank Northwood was quick to admit: “We didn’t play well – I don’t think the Knowsley fellow will have learned a lot from that.”
Gresley looked particularly brittle in central defence in the opening stages with’keeper Tony Moore having to produce the first of a string of good saves to deny Kevin Edwards after the full back had skated past three challenges.
Rovers still had the lion’s share of possession but Andy Keeling’s vicious challenge on Craig Weston – typically unpunished by referee Underwood – was indicative of the lengths Blakenall were prepared to go to.
Their approach paid dividends on 17 minutes when former Moat striker Mark Sparrock picked up a right-side throw-in and turned past Astley before firing a low shot in at the foot of the near post with Moore clearly deceived by the uneven bounce.
As soon as the sides turned round for the second half, it became clear it was to be Gresley’s turn to boss the game.
Ten minutes after the restart a Richard Denby corner was cleared only as far as Astley on the end of the box and his low half-volley was turned in from close range by Kieron Smith.
Surprisingly, only eight minutes remained when Gresley settled the issue. Substitute Steve Adcock crossed from the left and Carl Rathbone converted with a powerful far post header.
Blakenall (1) 1
Gresley Rovers (0) 2
Scorers: Sparrock 17 (Blakenall), Smith 55, Rathbone 82 (Gresley Rovers).
Blakenall: Pomroy, Edwards, Price, Davies, Crook, Simkin, Keeling, Sparrock, Folland, Wilkinson, Raybould (Cant 83). Sub not used: Meeson.
Gresley Rovers: Moore, Barry, Elliott, Denby, Land, Astley, Weston (Stokes 57), Smith, Christopher (Adcock 65), Rathbone, Lovell.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Neil Lovell.
Referee: H J Underwood (Redditch).
Attendance: 190
