Match Report  |  Knowsley United vs Gresley Rovers

Knowsley United vs Gresley Rovers

Magic Moatmen – Andy Parker – Burton Mail

Gresley Rovers took an historic step into the last eight of the FA Vase after a magnificent, memorable and emotional battle at Knowsley United’s Alt Park on Saturday.

Two goals down after just 17 minutes and trailing 3-1 with nine minutes of normal time to go, Rovers hauled themselves out of the Merseyside mud by their bootlaces to snatch a dramatic equaliser fully five minutes into injury time.

Knowsley were allowed to regain the initiative and lead 4-3 into the second period of extra time but Frank Northwood’s magnificent Moatmen then turned a travelling army of fans wild with delight by sensationally snatching an improbable victory.

Such unadulterated joy had seemed a million miles away for the South Derbyshire side as powerful Knowsley dumped them fully on their backsides with two goals in three first half minutes.

After Gresley had dictated the opening stages the North West Counties League leaders grabbed the tie by the throat through top scorer Dave Siddell and strike partner Jim Bell, with both goals leaving massive question marks over a bruised, battered and bewildered Rovers defence.

Keiron Smith seemed to have put Gresley back in the tie within three minutes of the start of the second half when he scrambled the ball home after Paul Acklam headed on a cross from substitute Stuart Stokes.

But Knowsley’s reply was a devastating second goal from Siddell, tapping in a Ron Kilshaw cross just as Rovers seemed poised for an equaliser. At that point none but the diehard fan dared to believe that Gresley could come back again.

Knowsley, quick in the tackle and prepared to flout the rule book with impunity to deny their guests a glimpse of goal, were more ruthless and eager than Gresley as their three bookings and 27 free kicks conceded for fouls against Gresley’s 11 reflected.

But yet again the introduction of substitute Steve Adcock proved a turning point. The pint sized winger – who has risen from the bench to good effect in a string of games this season – gave Gresley a glimmer of hope when his measured right wing cross allowed Carl Rathbone to reduce the arrears with a close range header and raise the curtain on a frantic late chase for the equaliser.

It came with an astonishing 95 minutes on the clock. Neil Lovell stealing in to spark scenes of near delirium after Steve Astley had headed Richard Denby’s free kick across the face of goal.

Gresley now had the bit between their teeth, abandoning an ineffective passing game for a direct, hard-running approach that finally had the home defence – in which 42-year-old centre back Steve Jackson had hitherto been a Leviathan figure – in flustered disarray.

Nine minutes into extra time, though, came another hammer blow to Gresley’s hopes. Bob Aston came for a right wing cross but was left stranded as Siddell rose to complete his hat trick.

Again Rovers had to look to the depths of their character and fitness – and they were not found wanting. Stokes, outstanding on the right of midfield after replacing Craig Weston at half time, released Rathbone for a run into the six-yard box and in the melee that followed the ball crept over the line for Gresley’s second equaliser of the game.

Knowsley were outrun and outfought as Gresley piled their trade wide on the wings and when Adcock escaped his marker for the umpteenth time Gil Land arrived in the Knowsley box like an out-of-control express to head another superb cross unstoppably past Bobbie Bowler.

It was a performance that defied adequate description from manager Frank Northwood afterwards but the veteran boss was right on the mark when he said: “That was all about character. I thought we were beaten but there were 13 players out there willing to die for Gresley Rovers and that was the difference.”

Knowsley United (2) 4

Gresley Rovers (0) 5

(aet: score after 90 mins 3-3).

Scorers:<.b> Siddell 14, 55, 99, Bell 17 (Knowsley United); Smith 48, Rathbone 81, 109, Lovell 95, Land 112.