Willenhall Town vs Gresley Rovers
Lovell doubles up – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Battling Gresley Rovers showed all their character as they wrought a hard-earned victory over Willenhall Town at a frosty Noose Lane last night.
They overcame the setback of going behind in the third minute to wrest control fro eager hosts, then weathered a determined second half comeback to keep hold of three invaluable West Midlands League points.
Hero of the hour was midfielder Neil Lovell, who struck twice to give Rovers the edge over a gutsy Town.
Willenhall tore into the league champions right from the off and should have scored in the first minute, striker Mick Carr headed a gilt-edged chance well wide of a gaping target after midfielder John Wainwright had left Martin Dick trailing in his wake.
In the next attack, though, the home side took the lead, Wainwright firing Keith Harrison’s cross neatly home from eight yards with Rovers still struggling to get their bearings on one of the biggest pitches in the league.
An early response was essential and it came when, prompted by Richard Denby ‘s sweeping pass and Richard Wardle’s industrious running, Gresley won a corner on the left. As Willenhall’s concentration wavered Brian Beresford pulled the ball back for Lovell, haring in on the edge of the box, to fire in a low shot that deflected in off a defender.
Wardle’s running set up a second for Rovers in the 18th minute, winning a free kick 25-yards out that Gil Land hammered into the net in a carbon copy of his Saturday strike against Glossop.
It should have been all over bar the shouting when Kieron Smith robbed a defender and squared to the unmarked Paul Acklam but the out-of-touch striker skewed the ball wide of an empty net.
Willenhall raised their game after the break and after Simon Harrison had saved well from Bob Dyer his error led to the equaliser. The keeper raced out as the ball bounced around on the edge of his box, flattening Dyer and giving referee Colclough no option but to point to the spot, Rob Rogers scoring easily.
Acklam brought a superb reflex save from Duncan Turk as Rovers looked to restore their lead but it cost the home keeper dear. Hobbling for the rest of the game, he looked on helplessly as Rovers’ winner looped into the net five minutes later, Lovell claiming the last touch after Denby had knocked Wardle’s cross goalwards.
Willenhall Town (1) 2
Gresley Rovers (2) 3
Scorers: Wainwright 3, Rogers 63 (pen) (Willenhall Town); Lovell 5, 69, Land 18 (Gresley Rovers).
Willenhall Town: Turk, N Harrison, Foster, Townsend, Dyer (Edwards 74), Wainwright, Bourne, Rogers, K Harrison, Carr, Wark. Sub not used: Moore.
Gresley Rovers: Harrison, Barry, Dick, Denby, Evans, Land, Wardle, Smith, Acklam (Weston 70), Beresford, Lovell. Sub not used: Crewe.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Gil Land.
Referee: J L Colclough (Smethwick).
Attendance: 232
