Gresley Rovers vs Leek Town
Gresley driven a heard bargain - Andy Parker - Burton Mail
Gresley battled to a highly creditable draw against Leek Town at the Moat Ground last night - but ended up kicking themselves for not claiming a redoubtable pre-season scalp.
Rovers have been pitted against some quality opposition as they prepare to defend their West Midlands League title - but they are unlikely to come any tougher than the gritty Staffordshire side.
Leek's highly-rated HFS Loans League outfit paraded some familiar names - and none more so than that of former Martin Devaney, rated only last season in the four-figure fee bracket when reportedly a target for Stafford Rangers.
Yet Frank Northwood's - still shorn of a string of key players by unavailability - first weathered an early period of pressure from the visitors, then exploited a hesitant defence to take the lead and miss enough chances to have had the game comfortably won by half time.
In the end only defensive blunder put Leek level, although Gresley were forced to grit their teeth in a final quarter dominated by the visitors.
Carl Rathbone beat two defenders before breaking clear on a 40-yard run towards the Leek goal and firing confidently past Robin Simpson from 15 yards to put Rovers ahead on the half hour.
Steve Adcock, twice, and Craig Weston had chances to consolidate the lead as Gresley produced their best football since the end of last season but after Devaney and Rovers defender Martin Dick had been taken to hospital following a clash of heads the impetus began to swing in Leek's direction.
Only six minutes of the second half had gone when substitute Neil Lovell, attempting to find Bob Aston with a back pass, instead passed straight to winger Stuart Lester who presented Simon Snow with a simple tap in.
Said Northwood: "It was a very good performance - we could have had four goals quite easily against a very good side."
Gresley Rovers (1) 1
Leek Town (0) 1
Scorers: Rathbone 30 (Gresley Rovers), Snow 51 (Leek Town).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Barry, Dick, Denby, S Evans, Page, Weston, Stokes, Adcock, Rathbone, Venning. Subs: Lovell, Anderson, Elliott, Moore.
Leek Town: Simpson, Fisher, Pearce, Norris, Clewes, Laws, Mellor, Somerville, Snow, Devaney, Lester. Subs: G Evans, Mountford, Bainbridge.
Referee: M Horswell (Repton).
Attendance: 203
