Gresley Rovers vs Chasetown
Brian beats the Price fighter! - Andy Parker - Burton Mail
Brian Beresford's strike finally ended Gresley's marathon West Midlands League Cup tie - but it was visiting keeper Gary Price that stole the show at the Moat Ground last night.
Price, standing in for Chasetown's injured regular keeper Andy Withington, produced a top draw performance to deny in-form Rovers a much more convincing victory.
Gresley boss Frank Northwood conceded afterwards: "The lad had a purple night but it was all part of a very good game. I thought we played as well as we have all season."
With Richard Denby carrying on from where he left off at Malvern on Saturday and dominating the game in midfield, Gresley reduced Chasetown to booting the ball anywhere in the opening stages but - largely thanks to Price - their early domination failed to produce a goal.
The keeper confidently grasped a Carl Rathbone cross at the near post, saved Paul Acklam's close range half volley and bravely denied Denby after the Rovers captain skipped through a maze of defenders.
Thus encouraged, Chasetown began to apply their own method to the game and after David Yates went just wide with a 20-yard effort Antony Dixon broke through, forcing Bob Aston to save smartly at his feet.
Then only alert defending by John Barry prevented Yates from giving Chasetown an undeserved lead after Aston had failed to hold Gary Smith's 22-yard free kick.
Price superbly tipped away a close range effort from Brian Beresford as Gresley resumed their goal quest after the let-off then denied Neil Lovell from point blank.
But the diminutive midfielder's frustration soon turned to joy when he saved David Shelton's half-hearted clearance from going out of play and crossed for Beresford to force the ball home from close range.
Chasetown rallied as best they could but Gresley were still in control at the finish, Price again having to save well from Craig Weston, Kieron Smith and Rathbone.
Gresley Rovers (0) 1
Chasetown (0) 0
Scorer: Beresford 68.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Barry, Dick, Denby, Evans, Page, Weston, Beresford, Acklam (K Smith 62), Rathbone, Lovell. Sub not used: Venning.
Chasetown: Price, Cox, Jones, Shelton, Richards (Rose 77), Hyden, Ansell, Langston, G Smith, Yates, Dixon. Sub not used: Hill.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Richard Denby.
Referee: M A Cooper (Walsall).
Attendance: 473
