Heanor Town vs Gresley Rovers
Rovers through but Dolby fumes - Andy Parker - Burton Mail
Three goals in four minute burst ensured Gresley Rovers a place in the Derbyshire Senior Cup semi-finals at the Town ground last night.
But Gresley boss Steve Dolby was still far from happy with his team's performance after seeing Heanor creep back into the game with two late penalties.
Gresley had dominated from the off but lacked firepower in the first half. Indeed, Heanor could have taken an embarrassing lead after just 20 seconds when Robbie Briscoe's back pass put Bob Aston in trouble but Graham Millington, after sneaking the ball away, shot into the side netting.
Gresley then dominated territorially although Heanor, with the dangerous Millington prominent, occasionally looked dangerous and the striker that former Rovers boss Frank Northwood once tried to bring to the Moat Ground should have done better than fire hurriedly wide after breaking clear.
Referee Adcock should have done better than to award Heanor a goal kick four minutes later after Mike Taplin was clearly flattened in the penalty area by Dan Stevenson.
Instead the score remained blank at the interval but that situation changed in an amazing four-minute spell. After Martin Devaney had hit the inside of a post with a curling shot from the right Gresley finally took the lead.
Devaney laid off a long kick by Aston and although Craig Weston's shot looked to be too close to Kelvin Dudley, the keeper remained rooted to the spot as the ball crept over the line.
A minute later Weston returned the favour, teeing up Briscoe's through ball for Devaney to slide home.
Then a free kick from the right by Richard Denby picked out Taplin at the near post and Gresley appeared to be cruising.
Seven minutes later, though, Stuart Evans pulled back Alf Park in the 18-yard box and Stu Park hammered Heanor back.
With eight minutes left Alf Park was again Heanor's hero, this time going down under Dave Swainston's tackle to earn a second spot kick for Stu Park.
But Gresley's nerves were soon calmed when Briscoe, looking comfortable at left back, exchanged passes with Taplin before despatching their fourth.
Heanor Town (0) 2
Gresley Rovers (0) 4
Scorers: S Park 69, 82 (both pens) (Heanor Town); Weston 58, Devaney 59, Taplin 62, Briscoe 85 (Gresley Rovers).
Heanor Town: Dudley, Stevenson, Cooper, Preston, Baker, S Park, Bell, Millington, A Park, Walsh, Checkley (Manners 70). Sub not used: Marsh.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Swainston (Foster 86), Briscoe, Denby, Evans, Land, Wardle, Briggs, Weston, Devaney (Acklam 77), Taplin.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Craig Weston.
Referee: D J Adcock (Long Eaton).
Attendance: 317
