Matlock Town vs Gresley Rovers
Rovers rule – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers extended their rule over Matlock Town with yet another victory over the HFS Loans League side last night – but this has to go down as the closest game yet in the two clubs’ Derbyshire Senior Cup saga.
Rovers were forced to defend in numbers for long periods – and to ride their luck considerably – before dealing out more Causeway Lane heartbreak for Matlock.
In the end a sweetly taken 10th minute goal by back-to-form Paul Acklam proved the difference but Rovers coach Steve Dolby was forced to admit afterwards: “We looked like a side that has played five times in 10 days.”
But Dolby refused to concede that fortune had played a part in his side’s victory insisting: “Both sides had two good chances – the difference was that we put one of ours away. I thought we played too well in the first half hour – the lads got their confidence and relaxed. I wasn’t particularly pleased with the second half but it was nice that we soaked up pressure without conceding. We’ve been giving away some silly goals lately but tonight we defended very well.”
After an excellent start Rovers had little choice but to do anything else for the majority of the game, and Matlock were twice denied by the woodwork as the game reached a frantic finale.
As it was the one cool finish of the night proved crucial.
Neil Lovell, who had earlier almost unhinged Matlock with a magnificent crossfield ball that refused to run into Craig Weston’s stride, provided a superbly weighted pass over Matlock’s square back line and Acklam timed his run with equal precision to arrive before onrushing keeper Gary Ingham and net with a neat lob.
Matlock pressure grew towards the interval but Bob Aston, who had done well to hold Nick Tilley’s viciously inswinging corner on the line, had little to seriously concern him apart from when Tilley’s surprise 22-yard shot came back off the foot of a post.
The pattern continued after the break although Gresley threatened to finish the tie when Lovell and Weston played neat one-two only for Weston’s shot to be deflected just wide.
Rovers’ defence groaned and creaked at times, no more so than when Stuart Stokes failed to cut out a Tilley cross from the left only for John Harker to fire across goal against a post. Then Les Hunter headed a Gordon Simmonite free kick on for Stuart Franklin but his diving header flew inches wide.
Kieron Smith had the chance to calm Rovers nerves when Stokes freed him down the centre but the top scorer shot just wide. In the event, it was a miss that was soon forgotten.
Matlock Town (0) 0
Gresley Rovers (1) 1
Scorer: Acklam 10.
Matlock Town: Ingham, Dungworth, Mitchell, Marsh, Hunter, Simmonite, Harker (Franklin 64), Sheppard, Hoyland, Mullins, Tilley (Gee 76).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Barry, Stokes, Denby, Land, Astley, Weston, Smith, Acklam (Dick 65), Adcock (Wood 81), Lovell.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Neil Lovell.
Referee: B Rudkin (Ambergate).
Attendance: 305
