Gresley Rovers vs Trowbridge Town
It’s tough going for fading Rovers – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
The local radio announcer who proclaimed a 6pm on Saturday: “Gresley have been beaten at the Moat Ground yet again” could almost have been excused his error.
Gresley’s most dismal performance of the season ended in what was in fact their first home defeat in the Beazer Premier Division.
The gloom that descended in the aftermath of what was also Rovers’ first sound drubbing of the season was, however, an extension of the growing depression brought on by a string of failures to turn draws into victories.
Trowbridge, though, were different from any of the sides Rovers have met so far this term – although one suspects there are many more like them lurking in wait for the South Derbyshire newcomers.
Rovers boss Steve Dolby summed things up perfectly when he said afterwards: “They were big, strong and committed and they just sat back and waited to hit us on the break – and it worked perfectly for them. The first goal was absolutely vital. Once they got in front that was just what they wanted.”
Dolby knew it was not going to be his day when his most reliable defender gifted Trowbridge that vital opening goal.
Neither side had had a whiff of a chance when Town keeper Mark Teasdale aimed a 22nd-minute punt downfield but Stuart Evans inexplicably allowed the ball to pass over his head to where Alan Bird waited to pounce with an angled drive into the corner of the net.
Defender Jason Lunt almost put Rovers on level terms in his attempt to clear a Mark Hurst corner but Teasdale tipped over, whereupon Rovers began to fall apart at the seams.
Only Bob Aston stood in the way of a massacre as Steve Lester, Ray Baverstock and Ian Howell all saw shots saved by the keeper’s fingertips.
Trowbridge’s destructive tackling and big boot tactics had completely thrown Rovers and there was only marginal improvement after the break, Christian Moore briefly raising morale by rising from the sub’s bench for a stirring run and shot that forced Teasdale into his first save of the match at the foot of a post.
Alas, when Rovers were presented with their only real opening of the game following Colin Loss’s crossfield pass the unmarked Tony Marsden could not even produce the second, firing wastefully wide with the goal at his mercy.
Then, when second substitute Craig Weston’s cross found Richard Wardle on a determined charge the midfielder’s power header stuck in the keeper’s midriff.
That was the cue for Town to end the home crowd’s agony, Bird plundering his second goal after the continually dangerous Adie Harris had broken down his own half.
Harris completed the dusting down with a solo effort in the 90th minute before Weston finally gave Rovers consolation direct from an injury time free kick.
Gresley Rovers (0) 1
Trowbridge Town (1) 3
Scorers: Weston 92 (Gresley Rovers); Bird 21, 79, Harris 90 (Trowbridge Town).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Blount, Rigg, Evans, Stanborough, Wardle, Marsden, Acklam (Weston 75), Devaney, Hurst (Moore 60).
Trowbridge Town: Teasdale, Baverstock, Howell, Thorpe, Kilgour, Lunt, Bird, Lester, Boden, Mitchell. Subs not used: Knight, Jackson.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Bob Aston.
Referee: M Singh (Coseley).
Attendance: 729
