Gresley Rovers vs Rushden & Diamonds
Rovers storm it - Andy Parker - Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers battled through the eye of a storm to claim their place in the 3rd round of the FA Vase by sheer dint of effort at the Moat Ground last night.
Lashed by the wind and rain, Rovers based their victory on three first half goals after Rushden skipper John Flower had won the toss - and decided to kick into the wind.
A sweetly struck free kick from skipper Richard Denby followed by a brace of close-range strikes from Kieron Smith gave Rovers their decisive first half lead, leaving them to defend like Trojans after the turn-around as the visitors strove unsuccessfully to turn territorial advantage into goals.
Stuart Evans, one of a string of Gresley defensive heroes, explained afterwards: "It's a matter of who wants it most in those conditions. But the lads have been there before and they know what they're missing if they lose."
Wembley remains a long way off yet, but perhaps Denby had the twin towers in his sights as he lined up a 19th-minute free kick on the edge of the box that took the slightest of deflections before rolling gently into the net with the keeper Kevin Shoemake rooted to his line.
The goal came after Denby had almost crafted a second-minute lead with a superb through ball but striker Mike Taplin squandered a golden chance. That could have been costly had Bob Aston not saved well with his feet from veteran Ollie Kearns five minutes later.
Rushden had looked threatening with some neat passing approach play but the complexion of the game changed after Denby's opener and Shoemake soon had to beat away Robbie Briscoe's shot.
Then Richard Wardle's corner flew right through a crowded penalty area leaving Smith to stoop to conquer at the far post with a low header.
Rushden responded with their best move of the half but as Grenville Donegal broke clear on the right Aston pushed his drive to safety.
It proved another vital save for soon Rovers were three up, Taplin heading Briscoe's free kick from near the right corner flag against the crossbar and Smith reacting quickest to bury the rebound into the roof of the net.
Rushden had two players booked in a minute as the game threatened to boil into the wrong kind of action but Rovers kept their composure, even after substitute Andy Kirkup had reduced the arrears from Dave Johnson's cross.
Kearns could have set up a nerve-wracking finish if he had converted an open goal chance set up by Kirkup but instead wafted the ball wide to leave Rovers dreaming of another cakewalk along Wembley Way.
Gresley Rovers (3) 3
Rushden & Diamonds (0) 1
Scorers: Denby 19, Smith 34, 39 (Gresley Rovers); Kirkup 70 (Rushden & Diamonds).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Dick, Swainston, Denby, Evans, Land, Wardle (Weston 60), Marsden, Smith (Devaney 87), Taplin, Briscoe.
Rushden & Diamonds: Shoemake, Bushell, Johnson, Flower, Waite, Peakes, Leslie (Kirkup 56), Mann, Donegal, Kearns, York. Sub not used: Wilson.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Kieron Smith.
Referee: J R Hubbard (Leicester).
Attendance: 717
