Lye Town vs Gresley Rovers
Rovers let off - Dave Hackett - Burton Mail
One piece of wretched defending ruined Gresley Rovers' hopes of avenging a rare home defeat.
But the blow delivered by Lye's equaliser was softened by the news that Rovers principal rivals for the West Midlands League title - Stourport and Blakenall - had both been beaten.
Goalkeeper Andy Crannage was an inspiration for the home side, pulling off four saves of the highest quality, but Rovers went in front courtesy of Brian Beresford's 17th goal of the season in the 65th minute only to squander their advantage in disappointing fashion two minutes later.
Rovers survived a bright opening by Lye to take control, Paul Acklam turned neatly onto Neil Lovell's cross to have a close-range effort kept out by the most delicate part of Crannage's anatomy.
Then after Richard Denby's through ball had freed the overlapping Jason Minton, Crannage intervened again with an acrobatic save to turn over a Beresford header.
A handling offence by John Barry gave Lye a golden opportunity to take a 48th minute lead. However, Steve Field's resultant penalty was both high and wide.
Minutes before his premature withdrawal with injury Acklam had a penalty claim rejected and another firmly driven shot fielded at his near post by Crannage.
Even Crannage was beaten though when Beresford's instincts saw him get onto the end of Paul Whitehead's abortive clearance before beating the keeper with a looping header.
Lye must have been surprised at the ease with which Chris Mason was allowed to run unhindered past three Gresley defenders before having his cross-shot turned in by Graham Stokes.
Rovers' hopes of salvaging the extra two points were foiled when Crannage saved expertly from Carl Rathbone.
Lye Town (0) 1
Gresley Rovers (0) 1
Scorers: Stokes 67 (Lye Town); Beresford 65 (Gresley Rovers).
Lye Town: Crannage, Parry, Cooper, C Field, Taylor, Whitehead, Homer, Stokes, S Field, Mason, Winfield. Subs not used: Day, Shaw.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Barry, Dick, Denby, Land, Minton (Evans 44), Weston, Rathbone, Acklam (Smith 57), Beresford, Lovell.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Brian Beresford.
Referee: P Rejer.
Attendance: 270
