Gresley Rovers vs Rocester
Spot prize for Rovers – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
A Brian Beresford penalty six minutes from time finally broke Rocester’s stubborn resistance and put Gresley Rovers into the semi-finals of the West Midlands League Cup last night.
Rocester had led for almost half the game and it took an interval reshuffle by Gresley to bring them back into the tie.
The two sides were replaying after a 0-0 draw at Rocester on Saturday but the goal drought was soon ended last night. Mark Shelley’s cross was allowed to run all the way into Gresley’s six yard box and with keeper Simon Harrison rooted to his line Nigel Mottram hared in to slip the ball home.
Rovers had done all the pressing up to that point and continued to dominate possession without seriously troubling a Romans side high on defensive resolve and always dangerous on the break.
Indeed, Shelley could have added to the home side’s woe had he produced a better finish to John Mayer’s crossfield ball after Ian Gibbon’s dummy wrong-footed Gresley’s defence, but he shot weakly straight at Harrison.
The Moatmen looked ill at ease and unable to make their five-at-the-back formation click into gear. Standards of passing dropped to unacceptable levels and while Beresford twice shot just wide on the break, Guy Hall’s 20-yard shot caused greater concern in the home defence as it flashed inches off the mark.
The second half, however, was to be a different matter. Gresley’s reshuffle immediately brought more pressure to bear on Rocester and, after 12 minutes of the restart, Kieron Smith fired in the equaliser from close range after the visitors had failed to clear a Richard Denby corner.
Rovers introduced Craig Weston to further probe Rocester’s flanks and Smith was inches from converting the substitute’s cross before a rush of blood finally cost the Romans the tie.
Neil Lovell was in a far from threatening position on the edge of the box when Richard Owen clattered into him from behind and Beresford slipped home the penalty.
A minute from time John Barry broke down the right and after a one-two with Paul Acklam squared for Beresford to make certain of a Gresley victory.
Gresley Rovers (0) 3
Rocester (1) 1
Scorers: Smith 57, Beresford 84 (pen), 89 (Gresley Rovers); Mottram 13 (Rocester).
Gresley Rovers: Harrison, Barry, Astley (Dick 45), Denby, Evans, Land, Wardle (Weston 56), Smith, Acklam, Beresford, Lovell.
Rocester: Deaville, Croft, M Hall, G Hall, M Ede, Barry, Mayer, Shelley, Gibbons (Walklet 86), Mottram, Owen. Sub not used: Priestley.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Stuart Evans.
Referee: B T Millership (Mile Oak).
Attendance: 423
