Bedworth United vs Gresley Rovers
Rovers take spot prize - Andy Parker - Burton Mail
A penalty that was and a penalty that wasn't provided the main talking points of an incident packed Beazer Midland Division game at The Oval last night.
Craig Weston's 80th minute spot kick gave Rovers the point that was the very least they deserved from one of their best away performances of the season.
Yet angry Bedworth claimed they were robbed of a penalty of their own when Tim Smithers went down under Stuart Evans' challenge a minute from time.
Instead, referee Bayliss decided the Bedworth full back had dived - and from Gresley's point of view that was one of his better decisions that evening.
The West Bromwich official punctuated a poor performance by booking five players in a game that, while fiercely contested, lacked one serious foul.
Such was the ill will created by the man in the middle that the many fine points of the game were largely overlooked in the after match debate.
One that certainly wasn't, however, was an astonishing save by Rovers keeper Bob Aston in injury time, keeping out a point blank header by United substitute Andy Mee after Smithers had carved a gilt-edged opportunity to secure all three points for Bedworth.
That would have been rough justice on Rovers, who had created the lions share of the chances only to be pegged back by Bedworth's sharper finishing.
Said manager Steve Dolby: "Generally, the defence played well - but we were punished for two slight errors."
The abrasive McBean was the first to profit, firing home a superb angled drive after first losing Evans on the half way line then bursting past Graeme Rigg on the edge of the penalty area.
With the prolific Martyn Twigger having limped off after ten minutes, Gresley had to contend with McBean and thus the majority of Bedworth's attacking threat - and took the lead after 10 minutes when Gil Land headed home Richard Denby's right wing free kick at the far post.
That could have sparked more Rovers goals with a goal line clearance denying Weston after good work by Devaney and Land seeing a shot blocked after Bedworth keeper Paul O'Connor had missed Robbie Briscoe's corner.
Even after McBean's leveller Rovers could have retaken the lead but Weston shot disappointingly straight at the keeper after an excellent run by Devaney.
Rovers continued to give as good has they got after the break but fell behind when Evans misjudged Smither's free kick and substitute Dave Crowley curled a 12-yard shot beyond Aston's drive.
That left Weston to add justice to the scoreline after O'Connor's push on Mike Taplin, although Bedworth were just as furious about that decision as the one at the other end nine minutes later.
Bedworth United (1) 2
Gresley Rovers (1) 2
Scorers: McBean 32, Crowley 69 (Bedworth United); Land 10, Weston 80 (pen) (Gresley Rovers).
Bedworth United: O'Connor, Wilkins, Smithers, Rodwell, Piggon, Parker, Osborne, Emery (Crowley 51), McBean, Twigger (Mee 10), Straw.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Elliott, Swainston, Denby, Evans, Land, Wardle, Rigg (Taplin 72), Weston, Devaney, Briscoe. Sub not used: Dick.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Richard Wardle.
Referee: S W Bayliss (West Bromwich).
Attendance: 350
