Harwich & Parkeston vs Gresley Rovers
Rovers defend their dream - Andy Parker - Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers' FA Vase express moved one stop nearer to Wembley after an emphatic victory in Essex on Saturday.
Harwich and Parkeston's best effort to derail the Banks's League leaders hit the buffers thanks to a heroic defensive performance.
Gresley's back four - as generous as Santa Claus in the fifth round epic at Knowsley - turned into a mean machine as the home side were shunted decisively into a terminus.
That meant the tie was destined never to be a repeat of the Merseyside thriller as central defensive partners Gil Land and Steve Astley performed magnificently to dent the home side's aspirations. Behind them keeper Bob Aston produced a display that justified his hurried return from injury.
Harwich, howled on by a vociferous home crowd, never allowed their will to win dim but Rovers' football flowed throughout the side from Aston's gloves to a potent three-man strike force.
Gresley kept up the momentum even after Kieron Smith's 11th minute effort was ruled out for offside as Paul Acklam and Carl Rathbone produced legitimate finishes either side of half time that set up a two-legged semi-final.
Quite simply, Gresley put the ball into their opponent's six-yard box more often and more penetratingly than the home side. And when Harwich did get the opportunity to display their finishing skills, they produced only frustration and despair for their fans.
Gresley pressed forward in numbers whereas the best Harwich could muster was a first time effort from Kevin Morrison that Aston collected comfortably as he dropped to his left.
Alan Hannigans' booking for kicking Rathbone reflected the home side's anxiety which heightened in the 20th minute when Denby's free kick forced Mokler to fumble at the far post but Rathbone could only force the ball wide.
With half time beckoning, however, Gresley finally found the net. Steve Astley brought the ball from deep before releasing Neil Lovell on the left although Hannigan was favourite for his low cross Acklam nipped in to take the ball off his toes and round the advancing Molker before firing into an empty net.
Harwich's best chance came in the 58th minute when Morrison broke away and found himself with only Aston to beat. The Gresley keeper produced a wonderful sprawling save only for Kevin Ketley to be presented with an open goal from the rebound but the midfielder's shot, incredibly, flew wide.
Within a minute Harwich were made to rue the miss. Aston kicked long down the centre, Smith produced a vital flick on and, when Hannigan could only help the ball on, Rathbone nipped in to head joyously past Molker.
Harwich were forced to throw everything forward in a desperate bid to save the tie but when Aston flung himself to his left to keep out Morrison's 18-yard effort, it was clear the ticket to the semis had "Gresley Rovers" stamped indelibly across it.
Harwich & Parkeston (0) 0
Gresley Rovers (1) 2
Scorers: Acklam 41, Rathbone 59
Harwich & Parkeston: Molker, Henry, Osman, Tracey, Hannigan, Crouch, Arnold, Ketley (Olson 63), Hepburn, Morrison, Lee (Ragan 63).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Barry, Elliott, Denby, Land, Astley, Stokes, Smith, Acklam (Adock 68), Rathbone, Lovell. Sub not used: Weston.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Gil Land.
Referee: R K Pawley (Cambridge).
Attendance: 961
