Newcastle Town vs Gresley Rovers
Taplin hides the blushes - Andy Parker - Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers' sparkling league form deserted them for the FA Cup outing once again at Lyme Valley Parkway on Saturday.
But to the relief of their large contingent of travelling fans Mike Taplin's goal proved enough to take them into the second qualifying round - and avange last season's FA Vase defeat on the same ground.
Just as in the preliminary round against Highgate United a fortnight earlier, however, Rovers looked a different side from the one that had stormed to the top of the Beazer Midland Division.
And while the Moatmen were boosted by Taplin's fourth-minute opener, it was Newcastle's inept inability to put the ball in the net from clear cut chances the ensured Gresley and not the Potteries side will be entertaining Gainsborough in the Second Qualifying Round on September 26th.
Perhaps Taplin's goal, coming after the striker stretched instinctively to turn in a Paul Acklam's cross via a post, came too early for Rovers.
For as quickly as they had established command of their hosts they allowed it to dissipate as rough and ready Town began to get the better of midfield.
Twice former Rocester striker Ian Gibbons was allowed to run clear with only Bob Aston to beat but his effort was a powder puff shot straight into the keeper's hands and the second ended in the same safe haven after the veteran custodian had forced Gibbons wide.
Newcastle skipper Chris Hagan had an even better chance to level the scores but when the ball fell to him six yards out he shot hopelessly wide.
Gresley looked more like their real selves as the interval approached, Acklam twice going close, but after the restart it was Newcastle again who were making and wasting the chances.
With Gil Land commanding at the back and skipper Richard Denby always looking to open up play Rovers gradually resumed control and should have wrapped things up late on.
Taplin fired at the keeper after taking advantage of the new back pass rule, then substitute Craig Weston repeated the trick after being presented with a one-on-one courtesy of defender Kevin Williams' blunder.
Newcastle rallied again to try and force a replay but one thing had been plain almost from the outset - it just wasn't their day.
Newcastle Town (0) 0
Gresley Rovers (1) 1
Scorer: Taplin 4.
Newcastle Town: Butler, J Smith (Case 83), Williams, Moran, Griffiths, Hagan, Hope (Stephenton 70), Lawton, Campbell, Gibbons, Beardmore,
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Barry, Briscoe, Denby, Evans, Land, Wardle, Elliott, Smith, Acklam (Weston 81), Taplin. Sub not used: Dick.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Gil Land.
Referee: M C Dexter (Thurmaston).
Attendance: 315
