Gresley Rovers vs Burton Albion
Albion cling on - Rex Page - Burton Mail
Burton Albion clung on to the Johnson Cup by their fingertips in a gripping local derby showdown at the Moat Ground last night.
Lucky to be trailing 1-0 after being totally outplayed in the first half, the Brewers nosed in front on the back of another inspirational contribution from Adrian Doughty.
Doughty set up the equaliser for Simon Redfern and then brilliantly notched his fourth goal of Albion's warm-up campaign.
And, just for good measure, he was one of five Albion players to keep his nerve after Gresley's own rising star Chris Parkins had forced the issue to be decided on penalties.
Overall, though, it was Rovers who could feel most satisfied with their night's work.
With Tony Marsden and Richard Denby commanding the midfield skirmishes, Gresley's fluent passing, eager running and sharp tackling required Albion to spend much of the first half defending their own territory.
Rovers seized the lead with a classic set piece strike in the 13th minute, Stuart Evans heading on Craig Weston's corner for Kieron Smith to nod in at the back post.
Albion could have been more seriously damaged as they struggled to keep their hosts at bay. Mick Taplin sent a thunderous header against the face of the bar and it needed some desperate work on the line from Nigel Simms to keep out a low cross from Richard Wardle.
The Brewers, however, looked a different proposition after the interval, sending Simon Redfern to bolster their midfield and Doughty to give them more of a cutting edge up front.
The double substitution paid handsome dividends in the 56th minute. Doughty, fastening onto a Robbie Jones pass, got round the back of the Gresley defence and delivered a perfect cross for Redfern to square things up with a thumping far-post header.
Rovers, clearly feeling the effects of their immense first-half effort, appeared to be fading fast when Doughty hammered them again.
He set up the attack on the right and after a resourceful piece of work by third substitute Nathan Foster , the youngster thrashed an 18 yard right-foot shot beyond the reach of Rovers' stand-in keeper Lee Rippon.
But Gresley were not finished yet and Parkins brought a splendid contest to a fitting climax when he nipped past two Albion defenders to steer a low shot past Mark Wheatley.
The attempt to add the Johnson Cup to the Moat Ground trophy cabinet proved a vain one, however, when Gresley's second spot kick - taken by Brian Beresford - was easily held by Wheatley.
Gresley Rovers (1) 2
Burton Albion (0) 2
(agg: 3-3. Albion won 5-3 on pens)
Gresley Rovers: Rippon, Barry, Briscoe, Denby (Rigg 78), Evans, Land, Wardle, Marsden, Taplin (Parkins 78), Smith (Beresford 90), Weston.
Burton Albion: Wheatley, Davies (Foster 73), Reeves (Redfern 45), Straw, Geelan, Simms, Hendry, Gocan (Doughty 45), Mottram, Jones, Kurila.
Referee: R Davies (Overseal).
Attendance: 634
