Gresley Rovers vs Dunston Federation Brewery
Power Vase - Andy Parker - Burton Mail
Persistence paid big dividends for Gresley Rovers as they forced themselves past Dunston Federation Brewery into the FA Vase semi-finals with two late goals at the Moat Ground on Saturday.
It was a result that earned the Moatmen the adulation of a cracking 1,610 crowd forced a joyous curtain call after the game as the players returned to the field to celebrate a hard-earned, but thoroughly deserved win.
The key to Rovers' victory was a disciplined defensive performance that - two first half chances apart - comfortably contained the North Easterners, leaving Rovers to confirm their overall superiority with two late goals as brave Dunston wilted in the heat of an almost non-stop second half onslaught.
Goal chances converted or missed are inevitably the crucial moments of cup quarterfinals and openings that went begging for both sides left a string of might-have-beens to be contemplated in the aftermath.
The first came after just three minutes when Martin Devaney had time and space at the far post to control Craig Weston's right wing cross but the Rovers striker fired high over the target.
Then Dunston skipper Steve Kendal fashioned a chance at the other end with a superb, dipping shot fro 25 yards after David Willis' neat lay-off but the ball rebounded off the crossbar with Bob Aston beaten.
An early Dunston goal would not have done Gresley justice as they grabbed the initiative early on to dominate territorially; yet the longer the game continued the visitors began to eke out their own chances.
Top scorer Ian Mullholland fired an angled shot just wide after picking up an attempted Stuart Evans clearance that held up in the biting wind then, after Devaney had fired a 20-yard shot just over for Gresley, John Peacock wasted Dunston's best chance of the game after Kendal had returned another wind-hampered header, this time from Gil Land, into the danger area.
The midfielder had time to pick his spot as the ball fell at his feet on the six-yard line, but could only fire tamely straight into the clutches of a relieved Aston.
Gresley proved a far more potent attacking force with the wind in their favour.
Mike Taplin set the trend for the second half with a 20-yard snap shot that keeper Danian Boyd was forced to tip over, then Richard Denby saw a goal-bound effort blocked, Dave Swainston shooting wide from the rebound.
Dunston had an astonishing let-off on the hour when Denby's free kick from wide on the right deceived Boyd only to hit defender Graham Mole on the back of the head and deflect over for a corner.
Dunston's luck could not hold and, with eight minutes remaining, Swainston's run into the penalty area took him past two defenders and his cross was neatly laid off by Richard Wardle for Denby to rifle home from 20 yards via the head of the despairing David Wright.
Dunston's resolve, already sagging, was broken and substitute Robbie Briscoe commenced to tear an ailing defence apart, first blocking a clearance with his head only for Boyd to produce a marvellous fingertip save as the winger shot low towards the corner of the net, then going down under the keeper's challenge after racing clear in the inside left channel.
This was no forlorn effort by Briscoe, however, as from Weston's corner Paul Acklam bundled the ball home after Boyd had failed to gather under pressure from Devaney.
Gresley Rovers (0) 2
Dunston Federation Brewery (0) 0
Scorers: Denby 82, Acklam 90.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Elliott, Swainston, Denby, Evans, Land, Wardle, Weston, Acklam, Devaney, Taplin (Briscoe 76). Sub not used: Rigg.
Dunston Federation Brewery: Boyd, Dawson, Wright, Mole, Ditchburn, Hamilton, Kendal, Willis, Peacock (Robertson 84), Mulholland, Walker. Sub not used: Cockburn.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Dave Swainston.
Referee: K M Lynch (Knaresborough).
Attendance: 1610
