Gresley Rovers vs VS Rugby
Big shots close to cup shock - Andy Parker - Burton Mail
Richard Denby went out with orders to shoot on sight against VS Rugby at the Moat Ground on Saturday - and responded by scoring one goal and setting up a second in the latest of Gresley Rovers' memorable cup exploits.
Denby's 35-yard screamer opened the scoring and set a previously uninspired tie alight - with Gresley definitely getting the better of their lofty visitors until VS striker Mark Boyland popped up with a 90th-minute equaliser to spoil the party.
Rovers boss Frank Northwood said afterwards: "We told Richard beforehand that if he had a chance to shoot then he should have a go. He's got a super shot and if he was willing to have a go more often he would probably score every week."
The tie was flagging on its feet when Denby showed the way to goal in the 32nd minute, firing in a swirling drive from 35-yards that VS keeper Mick Martin got both hands to but could not keep out.
But tragedy befell Rovers' full back Martin Dick when, within two minutes of his skipper's opener, he nipped in to dispossess Boyland in the Gresley six-yard box - only to turn the ball past Bob Aston and over the line.
But Gresley - and Denby in particular - were undaunted and when the No.4 fired in another long-range effort on 43 minutes the hapless Martin found the effort too hot to handle and Paul Acklam had the coolest head on the field as he fired home the loose ball.
VS - who would have led themselves if Boyland had done better with a similar chance two minutes before after Aston had saved full length from Graham Reed's 25-yarder - turned up the heat after the break and, when Tom McGinty went down under John Barry's challenge as he moved onto a deep left wing corner, Reed was presented with the opportunity to level the scores once more from the penalty spot.
Still Rovers kept their self-belief and two minutes later they were ahead again, Carl Rathbone providing the spadework on the left of the box and Craig Weston the finish with a far post header.
Gresley had their chances then to finish the tie, Smith and Rathbone getting into each others' way after Acklam's flick-on, Venning shooting just over and Rovers' two substitutes combining only for Steve Adcock to head Brian Beresford's cross just wide.
Aston kept Rugby at bay with a great double save, pushing substitute Rob Jones' venomous shot away with one hand as it sped towards the top corner of the net then recovering to gather the loose ball ahead of the onrushing Mark Rosegreen.
But the Rovers keeper was helpless as Boyland moved unmarked onto Reed's corner to take the tie to a replay.
Gresley Rovers (2) 3
VS Rugby (1) 3
Scorers: Denby 32, Acklam 43, Weston 60 (Gresley Rovers); Dick 34 (og), Reed 58 (pen), Boyland 90 (VS Rugby).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Barry, Dick, Denby, Land, Page, Weston, Smith, Acklam (Beresford 63), Rathbone (Adcock 84), Venning.
VS Rugby: Martin, Niblett, McGinty, Halton, Coe (Jones 63), Reed, Shearer, Bradder (Bullions 28), Rosegreen, Boyland, Sweeney.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Bob Aston.
Referee: J R Hubbard (Leicester).
Attendance: 774
