Gresley Rovers vs Highgate United
Rovers high and low - Andy Parker - Burton Mail
Gresley swept away Highgate's FA Cup challenge with a flurry of goals at the Moat Ground on Saturday - but it did not impress manager Steve Dolby.
"I was disappointed with our performance - I feel very low," said the Rovers boss afterwards. "Following on from two very good performances it was very poor. It was an important game but it had the feel of a pre-season friendly."
All seemed well when Paul Acklam fired them ahead on 16 minutes from Tony Marsden's cross.
Marsden and Kieron Smith both rattled the woodwork in pursuit of a second but suddenly Highgate's Dave Morbey broke speedily past Stuart Evans and Warren Bates was unmarked to head a close range equaliser.
Visibly lifted, the visitors began to outplay a bewildered Gresley. It took Rovers until well after half time to resume territorial control but when Morbey set up Graham Wark for Highgate's second, defeat seemed more than possible.
Gresley's reaction was to turn the game on its head once again as Highgate were stricken by a double disaster.
First, Rovers substitute Mike Taplin - on for injured Martin Devaney at half time - neatly teed up Richard Denby's cross for Robbie Briscoe to hit a sweetly struck equaliser from 16 yards. Then Morbey was sent off - presumably for telling referee Johnson what he thought of him. Most of the crowd agreed with Morbey.
It was all going wrong for Highgate and when keeper Mick Chapman mis-punched Evans' cross, Acklam headed into an empty net to restore Rovers' lead. A minute later it was all over as Taplin dived to head in another Marsden cross.
Gresley Rovers (1) 4
Highgate United (1) 2
Scorers: Acklam 16, 87, Briscoe 75, Taplin 88 (Gresley Rovers), Bates 34, Wark 72 (Highgate United).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Barry, Briscoe, Denby, Evans, Land, Wardle, Marsden (Dick 89), Smith, Acklam, Devaney (Taplin 45).
Highgate United: Chapman, Bennett, Curley, Hyde, Conway, Page, Morbey, Wark, Taylor, Bates, Douglas.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Richard Wardle.
Referee: T Johnson (Fenton).
Attendance: 441
