Newcastle Town vs Gresley Rovers
Rocky Rovers’ Vase dreams in tatters – Dave Hackett – Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers’ love affair with the FA Vase ended in heartbreak when an extra-time penalty curtailed their dreams of a return trip to Wembley.
Even though Gresley were within three minutes of a place in the last 16 their overall performance was remarkably limp.
Manager Frank Northwood and coach Steve Dolby were scathing in their criticism of their side’s performance.
Dolby said: “I didn’t agree that their last goal was a penalty. However, we got what we deserved – nothing. We lacked the appetite to win and were out-fought, which was inexcusable.”
It did not take long for the hosts side to outline their approach – six free kicks were conceded in as many minutes before Steve Griffiths became the first of three home side players cautioned for a foul on Beresford.
Shaun Wade and Dave Ritchie later joined him in referee Wolstenholme’s notebook.
With Rovers allowing themselves to get caught out by Newcastle’s effectively-worked offside trap the home side took charge.
Neil Petteridge escaped the close attention of Jason Minton before being foiled by a full stretch Bob Aston who made another brave save at the feet of Wade but was at fault with Town’s opening goal.
Aston’s reluctance to come out and collect enabled Wade to tuck Ken Lawton’s through ball underneath him.
Gresley drew level with almost the last kick of the first half. Brian Beresford was needlessly felled by Phil Butler and the veteran striker picked himself up to send the keeper the wrong way from the spot.
Within five minutes of the restart Beresford was celebrating his 21st goal of the season with a typical piece of six-yard box goal poaching after Acklam had helped down Weston’s corner.
It took until the 83rd minute for Newcastle to seriously threaten to level when Wade scooped over Dave Ritchie’s cross but he atoned for the miss in spectacular style when he swivelled and hooked a shot into the roof of the net after Weston had wasted two earlier opportunities to clear the danger.
Extra-time was eight minutes old when Martin Dick was penalised for holding down Ritchie and Petteridge drilled home the penalty to show Rovers the exit.
Newcastle Town (1) 3
Gresley Rovers (1) 2
Aet score at 90 mins 2-2
Newcastle Town: Butler, Chetwyn, Williams, Petteridge, Griffiths, Hagan, Steventon (Bright 74), Lawton, Wade, Ritchie, Beardsmore (Chamberlain 84).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Barry, Dick, Denby, Evans, Minton, Weston, Rathbone (Smith 62), Acklam (Land 84), Beresford, Lovell.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Stuart Evans.
Referee: E Wolstenholme (Blackburn).
