Forest Green Rovers vs Gresley Rovers
Gresley too hot to handle - Andy Parker - Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers emerged from a scintillating battle in Gloucestershire with three points last night after fulfilling manager Steve Dolby's pre-match demand for a 100 per cent performance.
No holds were barred as Rovers wrested victory from their hosts in an enthralling game played at breathtaking pace.
There were astonishing goalmouth incidents at both ends of the park as the action hurled from end to end - with Rovers doing the lion's share of the attacking but finding Forest Green keeper Gary French in inspired form.
Fortunately for Rovers, Bob Aston was also on top of his game.
First to be called into serious action, he raced from his line to block Liam Dixon's shot as the Forest Green striker burst clear in the second minute.
The action soon moved to the opposite end, Gil Land crashing a header against the Forest Green crossbar from Craig Weston's corner and keeper French plucking a Devaney cross off the head of impressive new boy Mark Hurst.
Rovers seemed poised for an early breakthrough when, after 14 minutes, French could only parry Paul Acklam's header and Devaney was tripped by Steve Jones as he chased away from goal for the loose ball. Weston stepped up for the penalty but his kick was a poor one and French, leaping to his left, pushed the ball away.
Then it was Aston's turn to excel again, dropping to his left to keep out Christian White's thumping shot after Jones' header had been only half cleared.
Back roared Gresley, Weston swinging over another corner and Dave Swainston hitting a rising drive that again brought the best from French, who quickly regained his feet to produce another great save from Hurst's follow-up shot.
Hurst was then even closer to his first goal for Rovers, slanting a header across the six-yard box and against the inside of the far post after yet another corner, with Devaney and Acklam both unable to turn the ball in as it rebounded along the line.
Acklam then saw a shot cleared off the line after Land had helped on Richard Denby's free kick before a lightning break by the home side ended with Aston producing another good stop to thwart Jones.
The crowd was still applauding that effort when first Devaney, then the luckless Hurst, saw shots blocked in a melee at the other end.
Denby hit a 35-yard effort just wide then Gary Marshall crashed a header against the crossbar at the other end as the first half ended, miraculously, goalless.
The second began on a low not with bookings for French and Denby, whose inability not to argue the toss with the officials is in danger of bringing him to the brink of suspension.
The it was back to meaningful events with Devaney squandering possibly the best chance of the game, shooting straight at French after beating the offside trap onto Denby's through ball.
Ten minutes later, though, the breakthrough arrived. Hurst did well on a chase out to the right, pulling the ball back for Weston who beat a defender and crossed for substitute Mike Taplin to crash the ball home at the near post.
Forest Green gamely kept the game alive but in the final minute Devaney put the issue beyond doubt when he escaped down the right onto Scott Elliott's throw and drove the ball beneath French.
Forest Green Rovers (0) 0
Gresley Rovers (0) 2
Scorers: Taplin 65, Devaney 90.
Forest Green Rovers: French, Spalding, Pearce, Sivell (Bell 80), Churchward, Collicutt, White, Marshall, Dixon, Wells, Jones. Sub not used: J Evans.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Elliott, Swainston, Denby, S Evans, Land, Weston, Rigg, Acklam (Taplin 65), Devaney, Hurst (Marsden 75).
Gresley man-of-the-match: Richard Denby.
Referee: P E Townsend (Pershore).
Attendance: 198
