Gresley Rovers vs Bedworth United
-Last-gasp Mick rescues Rovers - Andy Parker - Burton Mail
Substitute Mike Taplin earned Gresley a point with a last gasp goal at the Moat Ground on Saturday but Rovers boss Steve Dolby had a degree of sympathy for visitors Bedworth.
"They must have been sick to concede an equaliser like that right at the end," said Dolby. "The wind spoilt the game for both sides. They dominated the first half and scored two goals with the wind behind them and we dominated the second and scored two goals, but I was relieved at the end.
"They worked really hard, especially in the first half, and closed us down very well. We could learn a lesson from that - we don't do it as well as some teams."
That was certainly the case after three minutes after Rovers had failed to clear a left wing attack, Bobby Parker finding the time and space to curl a superb 25-yard shot past Bob Aston's dive and just inside the keeper's left post.
As Rovers battled against both the elements and a determined United things got worse after 32 minutes.
Aston had just saved well after Martyn Twigger had broken clear, blocking the striker's advance with a brave save at his feet, but could do nothing to prevent Rob Straw firing home from six-yards after Peter McBean had headed down Twigger's left wing cross.
But with no sign of a biting northerly wind dropping during the interval it was sure to be a game of two halves and Rovers commenced to dominate the second period just as their guests had done the first.
They sustained terrific pressure on the Bedworth goal, where United has cause to be grateful for the sure handling of Paul O'Connor, but the keeper was helpless to prevent Paul Acklam from firing Rovers back into the game with a whiplash right foot shot from a tight angle after Richard Denby had helped on Dave Swainston's through ball.
Bedworth's impressive front runners ensured that the threat of a breakaway goal never diminished yet Rovers kept up their forward momentum and were rewarded in the final minute when Martin Devaney's run took him to the byline and Taplin stuck out a leg to divert his low cross over the line.
The game ended on an acrimonious note in injury time with Gil Land claiming - not without justification - that he had been elbowed in the face by McBean. In the end one got the impression that referee Wesson blew the full time whistle to end the game before he lost control.
Gresley Rovers (0) 2
Bedworth United (2) 2
Scorers: Acklam 63, Taplin 90 (Gresley Rovers); Parker 3, Straw 32 (Bedworth United).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Swainston, Briscoe, Denby, Evans, Land, Wardle, Rigg (Taplin 75), Acklam, Devaney, Weston. Sub not used: Foster.
Bedworth United: O'Connor, Wilkins, McGrory, Bowden, Smithers, Parker, Andersen (Mee 58), Osborne, McBean, Twigger, Straw. Sub not used: Fenlon.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Stuart Evans.
Referee: J D Wesson (Loughborough).
Attendance: 350
