Stapenhill vs Gresley Rovers
Curry cup strike ends rivals’ hold – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
They’re probably still celebrating Stapenhill’s famous Derbyshire Senior Cup victory over Gresley up at Edge Hill today.
The Swans’ triumph may go down in the record books as something of a shock, but it was thoroughly deserved in every respect.
Not only did the home side produce – as might have been expected – a level of commitment that Gresley were never able to match, but they also matched Rovers’ skills with an impressive brand of football of their own.
Frank Northwood’s last act as Gresley manager was to defend his side from their critics afterwards – insisting his team had not, as was being suggested among Rovers fans, “bottled it”.
“It’s rubbish to suggest we bottled out,” snapped the veteran. “They’ve battled their way to the top of the league and they’re soldiering on. These things happen in football but people are saying things like we’ve got no guts instead of giving credit to Stapenhill – and they were superb.”
Stapenhill did look a little naïve when they allowed Brian Beresford to head Gresley in front on the quarter-hour mark, leaving the master goal poacher with time and space to meet Richard Denby’s pinpoint free kick.
But they answered back in stunning style when defender Rob Trow hurled the taunts of Rovers fans right back in their faces by firing home from close ramge after the impressive Mark Barnes had touched on Paul Mable’s corner.
Barnes rocked Gresley again, first by firing in an overhead shot that Simon Harrison nervily pushed over then firing in a glorious 25-yard effort that smacked against a post with Harrison totally beaten. Then, against the run of play, Rovers struck again, Denby exposing more defensive frailties to put Beresford clear to lob Dave Bolton.
That put Gresley on top for possibly the only time in the game but when the teams re-emerged for the second half, Stapenhill were quickly back in the driving seat.
The industrious Ady Sharp sparked an equaliser with a probing run that earned a free kick on the right. Dave Carlin sought out Trow at the far post with the kick and the big defender claimed the final touch as the ball ended up in the net after pinging around the six-yard box.
Gresley tried their level best to resume control but it always beyond them and there was a sense of inevitability when substitute Mick Curry fired the winner after Barnes had helped on John Bottomley’s free kick.
Stapenhill (1) 3
Gresley Rovers (2) 2
Scorers: Trow 23, 57, Curry 82 (Stapenhill); Beresford 18, 36 (Gresley Rovers).
Stapenhill: Bolton, Arthur (Walker 88), Thompson, Bottomley, Trow, Carlin, Coppinger, Sharp, Barnes, Marsh (Curry 77), Mable.
Gresley Rovers: Harrison, Barry, Elliott (Dick 70), Denby, Land, Minton, Wardle, Smith, Acklam, Beresford (Astley 73), Lovell.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Gil Land
Referee: J Barlow (Ripley).
Attendance: 450
