Team Bath vs Gresley Rovers
It was a case of "backs-against-the-wall" for the majority of this game. But, a gritty and determined Gresley Rovers display along with some clinical finishing by Shaun Harrad ensured all three points in front of a paltry home crowd of 55 made up largely of travelling Gresley fans.
Gresley made two changes to the side that had beaten Stourport Swifts in midweek with Jamie Barrett and Steve Lenagh replacing Liam Walshe and Carl Slater.
The visitors started off by testing the Team Bath keeper Brian Parkin within the first ten minutes. A right wing cross from Richard Wardle was snatched before Lenagh could take advantage and then Leigh Everitt, fed by Earl Alexander, sent over a cross that Parkin did well to tip over the bar when under pressure from Lenagh.
Gresley rode their luck on 10 minutes when, in the homes side's real attack of the game so far, a shot from Tom Stacey hit the underside of the crossbar before bouncing away to safety.
However, the constant Team Bath pressure was sure to take its toll and on 15 minutes it did. With Lenagh temporally off the field being attended to for a bloody nose, Luke Princes fired in a vicious shot that Gresley keeper Dale Belford could only parry. Mike Gillingahm was the quickest to react and slotted the rebound home.
Within two minutes Gresley were level. Lenagh did well to hold the ball up before laying on a fine pass to Harrad who confidently smashed a terrific shot into the top corner of the net.
On 25 minutes Alexamder easily left Gillingham for dead before supplying Lenagh with a chance but the big striker seemed to miss his kick.
Three minutes later, Gresley having their best spell of the game, almost took the lead. Lenagh found Harrad whose shot was turned onto a post by Parkin but Lenagh could only put the rebound wide of the mark.
On 41 minutes the home side had a chance but Chris Holland completely messed up his shot when very well placed.
Lenagh then went close for Gresley but his header, from a Leon Doughty free kick, landed the top of the net.
And then almost on the halftime whistle Belford had to be alert to expertly tip over a header from Holland.
Within minutes of the re-start Team Bath could have regained the lead. Matt Reeve sent over a cross to Prince who then put his pass agonisingly just too far in front of Danny Maye who had the goal at his mercy.
On 53 minutes Team Bath contrived to prevent themselves from scoring. A cross from Prince found Tom Stacey whose shot was blocked on the Gresley line by his teammate Maye.
Gresley found themselves defending for all they were worth as the home side pressed forward looking for a goal their play looked certain to provide.
On 74 minutes the visitor's were fortunate to see a low shot from Mark Cranham hit the prone Gresley defender Matt Smith before bouncing up and onto the bar. Gareth Holmes launched a long clearance that found Harrad who had got behind a Team Bath defender before hitting a superb low first-time shot past Parkin.
Belford was called on in the final few minutes to preserve Gresley's slender lead as he first made a superb block from Paul Tisdale's shot and then a save from a shot from Prince.
Team Bath (1) 1
Gresley Rovers (1) 2
Scorers: Gillingham 15 (Team Bath); Harrad 17, 75 (Gresley Rovers).
Team Bath: Parkin, Otto, Wisson, Lock
(D Smith 56), Holland, Tilson, Gillingham (Maye 33), Canham
, Reeves (Tisdale
56), Stacey, Prince. Subs not used: Watson, Hines.
Gresley Rovers: Belford, Wardle, Everitt, M Smith, Haynes, Holmes, Doughty, Barrett, Harrad, Lenagh (Francis 85), Alexander (Spacey 65). Subs not used: Slater, Walshe.
Rovers Star Man: Shaun Harrad – two superb goals.
Referee: K Milford (Yate).
Attendance: 55
