Gresley Rovers vs Stourport Swifts
It took a last gasp goal from Jamie Barrett to prevent this Dr Martens League 2nd round tie going into extra time and the dreaded penalty shoot out.
On a damp autumnal evening both teams served up a decent cup-tie that in reality Gresley should have put out of their visitor's reach by half time.
The impressive young Swifts winger Robert Taylor was the first to test the Gresley defence when he ran on to a through ball only to be beaten to it by Dale Belford who smothered the attempt.
On 4 minutes Swifts keeper spilled the ball and was rather fortunate to gather at the second attempt. Minutes later Carl Francis whipped in a fine cross that just eluded Earl Alexander.
Swifts had another half chance on 13 minutes but the shot was well blocked by Belford.
Six minutes later Gresley had the chance to take the lead. A corner taken on the left by Leon Doughty found Danny Haynes at the far post but he miss kicked his volley and put the ball well wide.
On 20 minutes, somewhat against the run of play, Swifts took the lead. Taylor collected the ball just inside the Gresley half and raced through on goal beating off the attention of two home defenders before slotting a well placed ball past Belford.
Gresley should have been on level terms on 26 minutes but the Swifts' goal seemed to lead a charmed life with shots from both Haynes and Shaun Harrad being blocked.
The pressure was mounting on the visitors' defence and on 29 minutes Haynes' volley from a Doughty corner needed a good block from Ryan Price and then again from Harrad's shot to prevent the equaliser.
Another corner for Gresley this time from the right was again resulted in a shot that was somehow blocked again and scrambled clear.
Alexander made one of his many runs down the left flank before sending in a testing cross that unfortunately found no Gresley player in a position to put the chance away.
The constant pressure was surely to reap dividends and on 38 minutes the goal the home side had been looking certain to get came.
Gresley were awarded a free kick about 30 yards out that was taken quickly. Francis got the ball and fired in a vicious shot that was blocked by Price but he was the quickest to react and smashed in the rebound for his second goal in two games.
It was no more than Gresley deserved as they had controlled most of the first period, indeed, they could have gone in to the break in the lead but for a good save from Price that prevented Haynes from doubling their lead.
Just as the whistle blew Swifts Richard Ball hit a shot high over the box when well placed.
Swifts came out after the change around and almost grabbed back the lead just two minutes from the re-start. A shot from Taylor hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced out and cleared by the Gresley defence.
But, as the game wore on Gresley began to gain the upper hand again. On 56 minutes a corner from the left caused panic in the Swifts defence and was scrambled away from danger.
Ten minutes later, however, Gresley took the lead. Substitute Barrett, on for Liam Walshe, scored a goal within seconds of coming on to the park. Fellow substitute Steve Lenagh did well to hold the ball up and find Francis with his pass. Francis then teed the ball up for Barrett who controlled the ball with his first touch of the game and then scored with his second.
On 66 minutes Gresley almost went further ahead when Carl Slater knocked a low cross from Haynes fractionally wide of the post.
Two minutes later some good work between Alexander and Francis ended in Alexander putting his shot just over the bar.
A moment of slack defending gave Swifts a lifeline on 69 minutes. A sloppy piece of defending allowed Taylor to draw his side level beating Belford after being put through on goal.
Gresley went straight up to the other end from the re-start and a shot from Lenagh was spilled by Price but bounced out for a corner. Holmes rifled his shot over from Harrad's corner kick.
On 74 minutes Swifts keeper Price, who was having difficult game with his handling and his touch, miss controlled a back pass and allowed the ball to go behind for the umpteenth Gresley corner.
Belford had to be on his metal a minute later to block a shot from a Swifts forward.
On 85 minutes Price kept his side in the game when he pulled off a fine save from Leanagh.
With the game seemingly sliding towards extra time a goal from Barrett in time added on prevented a further 30 minutes, and possibly the lottery of penalty kicks, being played.
Gary's view on the game
"I enjoyed that game! It was a classic cup-tie and to be fair to the lads we'd evaluated and set our priorities as being the league and the Trophy and we tried one or two things tonight.
"We played three at the back and rotated things around to rest one or two and we basically told the players to go out and enjoy themselves because there has been a bit of pressure for the last couple of weeks with us not performing particularly well.
"I felt at times tonight going forward we looked good. We could have moved the ball a bit quicker in the first half and a fair score line would have been 2-1 or 3-1 to us at half time. But we didn't take our chances and they had a bit of luck especially their keeper who had things bouncing off him and we weren’t quite there to pick up the bits and pieces.
"At the back I was a bit concerned because Matt Smith was playing more like a left winger rather than a left sided defender! But, he enjoyed it and got forward and he gave us a good outlet.
"We decided to tighten things up a little in the second half and we knew that if we kept doing what we were doing the goal would come and it did.
"We'd got the game won when we scored the second goal but we still tried to bomb on. We tried to get the message on the pitch for the defenders to just sit and keep our shape but we got caught out and to be fair the kid score another great goal.
"I was told by Dave Titterton to watch Robert Taylor go and he did! His pace early on was terrific and he scored an absolutely brilliant goal first half and he took his goal well in the second half. He's only 18 – what a prospect! But I can't help thinking that we played into his hands a little bit because he's quick and we should know how to deal with that. We gave away two silly goals.
"But having said that, all the lads in the dressing room enjoyed it, I enjoyed it, the spectators enjoyed it but, I'd much rather get back to some stable defending! It was a typical cup-tie with end-to-end stuff.
"I sent Jamie Barrett and Steve Lenagh on to win us the game and Jamie got the goal. I would liked to have seen us just being a bit more sensible having gained the lead and I heard the supporters groan when they announced that there would extra time and penalties so everyone owes Jamie a pint!
"Earl Alexander did everything we wanted him to do tonight and has won the man-of-the-match. He worked hard and been more direct and I'm delighted for him.
"Overall I'm just delighted to get the win but the biggest plus for me is to come through the game without any more injuries."
Gresley Rovers (1) 3
Stourport Swifts (1) 2
Scorers: Francis 38, Barrett 66, 90 (Gresley Rovers); Taylor 20, 69 (Stourport Swifts)
Gresley Rovers: Belford, Everitt, Slater, Smith, Haynes
, Walshe (Barrett 66), Doughty (Lenagh 65), Holmes, Harrad, Francis, Alexander (Spacey 90). Subs not used: Wardle, Clarke (gk).
Stourport Swifts: Price, Cotterill, Ulfig, Webb, Haywood (Wright 82), Harris (Giddings 61), Hawkes, Sayer, Ball, Taylor, Dunn. Subs not used: Kilgour, Titterton, Humber.
Rovers Star Man: Earl Alexander – always a threat.
Referee: R Gould (Swadlincote).
Attendance: 207
