Gresley Rovers vs Matlock Town
Fighting Gresley keep grip – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Gresley staged an incredible comeback against Matlock Town to keep a grip on the Derbyshire Senior Cup in last night’s semi-final at the Moat Ground.
Just as they had in last season’s final, Rovers allowed their HFS Loans League visitors to take a 2-0 first half lead only to turn the tables in the second half and – this time – ultimately miss victory by a whisker.
Just as before, it took the intervention of a second half substitute to turn the game although this time Gresley could not quite deliver a fairytale winner.
Rovers made the worst possible start by conceding a goal after only five minutes – and it was largely of their own making. Stuart Stokes gave the ball away in midfield then John Sheppard was completely unmarked at the far post to despatch Nick Tilley’s right wing cross past Bob Aston with a flying volley.
Gresley were visibly shocked and for a period Matlock were dominant and noticeably quicker.
It took Gresley 25 minutes to put the crowd on their toes when Andy Moore glanced Steve Adcocks’s left wing cross wide.
On 32 minutes though, Gil Land stumbled as he tussled with Sheppard in the box and Graham Hoyland was free to net at the second attempt after John Barry cleared his first effort off the line.
Another Adcock centre – this time from the right – and Moore’s near post flick almost set up a goal for Kieron Smith then Moore released Adcock to shoot just over from 18 yards but there was still a feeling Matlock had the game in the bag.
Not so. Six minutes of the second period had gone when Steve Astley’s forward pass was knocked into Paul Acklam’s path by Smith and the Gresley substitute fired a dream shot into the top right corner from 25 yards.
Gresley suddenly realised that Matlock were not that good and the game came alive. Smith dipped a 25-yarder just over, Acklam headed Denby’s cross over and Moore put Weston’s superb cross wide.
With seven minutes left Gresley gained their reward. Again Astley played a key role with a cavalier run from deep and when the ball came back to Adcock – for more effective in his second half midfield role – the winger’s cross to the far post was only helped into the net by keeper Gary Ingham.
Gresley Rovers (0) 2
Matlock Town (2) 2
Scorers: Acklam, Smith (Gresley Rovers), Sheppard, Hoyland (Matlock Town).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Barry, Dick (Acklam 45), Denby, Land, Astley, Weston, Smith, Moore (Gamble 75), Adcock, Stokes.
Matlock Town: Ingham, Dungworth, Mitchell, Marsh, Hunter, Simmonite, Harker, Sheppard, Hoyland, Mullins, Tilley (Greenhough 89). Sub not used: Gee.
Gresley Rovers man-of-the-match: Steve Astley.
Referee: R M Davis (South Normanton).
Attendance: 893
