Hinckley Town vs Gresley Rovers
The deadly double - Andy Parker - Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers produced a typically nailbiting performance before finally claiming promotion at Leicester Road last night.
Showing the commitment and quality that had put them on the brink of glory at Barri on Monday night, the Moatmen so wrestled the initiative from battling Hinckley they could have won by a five or six goal margin.
But after Hinckley had reduced the deficit to 2-1 with eight minutes left, Rovers' army of fans had to endure agonies as Town threatened to snatch an undeserved draw.
All that was forgotten as news of Barri's defeat and Rovers' promotion came through with the record books - the same pair that put paid to Barri on Monday - secured possibly the most significant result in Rovers' history.
Hinckley did their best to spoil the party on the occasion of manager Dave Grundy's final home match before retirement.
But Rovers were fired up for victory and Land pointed the way in the 17th minute, heading in at the far post from Richard Denby's right wing corner.
Hinckley briefly flickered on the stroke of half time with Bob Aston stretching to save Craig McKernan's volley, but Rovers were soon back on the boil after the break with Mike Taplin inches away from adding a second goal after cutting inside from the right onto Scott Elliott's through ball.
On 57 minutes the game seemed safe when Weston netted with a low shot after Taplin and Mark Hurst had both seen shots blocked following Richard Wardle's cross. And Taplin was unlucky not to cap an impressive performance with a goal after a superb run past two defenders, a left-foot shot flashing wide from 18 yards.
Luckless Hurst then left two defenders trailing before chipping only inches over, saw a goal-bound shot deflected just wide, headed against the post.
Hinckley could have pulled one back when Ian Bullions played Paul Purser through, Aston magnificently clawing the full back's shot away, but within seconds Scott Kempin set Rovers' nerves jangling when he headed powerfully past Aston at the far post from Andy Massey's corner.
Alas for Hinckley, they failed to concentrate their energies on seeking an equaliser. Curtis Campbell luckily escaped with only a booking after appearing to kick out Elliott in from of the referee, then Kempin flattened Wardle and, having already seen the yellow card, was sent off.
Hinckley Town (0) 1
Gresley Rovers (1) 2
Scorers: Kempin (Hinckley Town); Land 17, Weston 57 (Gresley Rovers).
Hinckley Town: Hewitt, McKernan, Purser, Williams, Lane, Bullions, Marriott, Campbell, Kempin, Massey, Tedds. Subs not used: Love, Symcox.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Foster, Swainston, Denby, Evans, Land, Wardle, Elliott, Weston, Taplin, Hurst (Dick 85).Sub not used: Devaney.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Richard Denby.
Referee: P J Salter (Dudley).
Attendance: 423
