Gresley Rovers vs Tamworth
Gresley's grit pays dividends - Andy Parker - Burton Mail
Tamworth became the latest fancied side to fall beneath Gresley Rovers' sword in a gripping Moat Ground battle yesterday.
After vanquishing Sutton Coldfield and Rushden & Diamonds, Rovers made it a hat trick of prized scalps thanks to a thrilling attacking performance in the first half backed up by heroic defence as Tamworth stormed back after the interval.
It was a display that prompted manager Steve Dolby to commend the "sheer grit" of his injury-ravaged side and one that gave further evidence that Rovers should not be discounted from the title battle - especially as they resumed top spot following Nuneaton Borough's defeat at Bedworth.
Yet again, Rovers drew early blood, Tony Marsden opting to ignore an opportunity to spread the ball wide and instead spearing a killing through ball into the path of Richard Wardle, who went down as he attempted to go past former Rovers defender Jason Minton in the box. It was a clear penalty, and Craig Weston fired confidently home.
Tamworth sought early redress with Mark Smith forcing Bob Aston to punch the ball against his own crossbar after a marauding run from deep and left wing cross but were then caught out again by Dave Swainston's excellent ball over the top to Weston, who beat defender before supplying the unmarked Martin Devaney to fire home from six yards against his former teammates.
The pair combined again almost to supply a third, keeper Dean William just beating Devaney in a goalmouth scramble then Devaney firing Weston's cross just wide with a first time shot. Then Wardle's run took him past two defenders but Robbie Briscoe's shot rebounded to safety off Williams' leg.
Wardle was soon instrumental in Rovers' third goal, however, linking with Briscoe and Weston before going down under Adam Whitehouse's flying challenge and Weston repeating his spot kick trick on the stroke of half time.
Tamworth have come back from the dead before this season, however, and they showed they were capable of doing so again when Smith set up Keith Russell to fire in from eight yards with the second half just seven minutes old.
It was backs to the wall for Rovers now as Tamworth poured forward, and Russell was inches from his second goal after Ian Crawley's header had opened the way.
As Gresley weathered the storm Weston's turn in the penalty area freed Devaney to shoot straight at Williams, Briscoe saw one header fly wide and another land straight in the keeper's midriff and Richard Denby fired a glorious right-foot effort against the underside of the bar from 25 yards.
But the deciding goal would not come for Rovers and instead it was Tamworth who turned up the heat against the run of play, Crawley showing the kind of finishing that once made him a target for Burton Albion with an acute angled drive past Aston after Smith had run through two tackles.
That meant some anxious moments for Gresley as referee Hubbard unaccountably added six minutes of stoppage time, although Weston was an ace away from settling it after a terrific run and shot that Williams tipped to safety.
Gresley Rovers (3) 3
Tamworth (0) 2
Scorers: Weston 4, 48 (both pens), Devaney 18 (Gresley Rovers); Russell 52, Crawley 75 (Tamworth).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Elliott, Swainston, Denby, Rigg, Land, Wardle (Dick 54), Marsden, Weston, Devaney (Taplin 88), Briscoe.
Tamworth: Dean, Williams, Whitehouse, Russell, Minton, McKenzie, Woodley, Bodkin, Smith, Boyland, Crawley, Dickson. Subs not used: Darren, Williams, Eccleston.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Craig Weston.
Referee: J R Hubbard (Leicester).
Attendance: 1049
