Cambridge City vs Gresley Rovers
Gresley Rovers crashed to defeat in the space of four fateful minutes at the City Ground, Cambridge on Saturday.
Midfielder Tony Marsden was the villain of the peace, conceding a penalty and then getting himself sent off, but City provided the supporting roles.
Striker Gary Grogan made the most of Marsden's 54th-minute penalty area push, then colleague Mark Scott, victim of a petulant flick in the face in the opposite goalmouth went down as if he'd suffered a left-right combination from Lennox Lewis and Marsden saw red to effectively condem Rovers to defeat.
It hadn't started badly for Rovers, who looked good for a point in a first half largely devoid of goalmouth incident.
Cambridge blazed two long range efforts high over in the opening minutes and Bob Aston saved Ryan's shot at the second attempt in the 37th, but generally the better approach play came from the visitors, with a decent final ball the missing ingredient.
Only in time added on for injuries did a goal suddenly seem likely, Ryan shooting against a post and Stuart Evans almost turning the rebound into his own net before Aston raced back to smother the danger on the line.
Then, in Rovers' best moment of the game, Marsden headed down Mark Blount's cross to give Mark Hurst a gilt-edged scoring chance but keeper Kevin Murray, making his 264th consecutive appearance, reacted superbly to claw the ball to safety.
Cambridge stepped up the pressure after the break but Rovers weren't troubled until a half cleared cross was returned into the area and Grogan and Marsden clashed.
Many referees would have judged the forward to have dived, but, with a linesman's flag frantically signalling a spot kick, Mr Osman of Thame, who awarded a dubious penalty against Rovers at Halesowen in October, repeated the performance and Ryan blasted unstoppably past Aston's dive.
Rovers sought an equaliser but, after Marsden's departure, it was always Cambridge, with at least six men behind the ball at all times and looking to expose Rovers' lack of numbers on the break, who looked the likelier to score again.
Paul Wilkin put a routine header wide from one such attack and Neil Pope curled another chance over the top of an empty net after Nigel Simms had dropped a backpass short of Aston.
But then it seemed Rovers might be handed a lifeline when Blount went past Scott on the right of the penalty area and appeared to be tripped. Rovers' travelling fans bayed for justice, but Mr Osman, this time with no flag to guide his judgement, awarded a goal kick.
Still Rovers dominated possession, but it was not until the 90th minute that they managed their first shot of the half, Blount blazing over from 20 yards.
Then Cambridge had the opportunity to add insult to injury but when Pope's left wing cross beat Aston Ryan, on his knees in the six-yard box, could not convert the change.
Cambridge City (0) 1
Gresley Rovers (0) 0
Scorer: Ryan 54 (pen).
Cambridge City: Murray, Tovey, Scott, Goddard, Beattie, Gawthorpe, Wilkin, Pincher, Ryan, Grogan (Lockhart 80), Pope. Sub not used: Fallon.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Blount, Rigg, Loss, Evans, Simms, Wardle, Marsden, Hurts (Acklam 80), Devaney, Weston. Sub not used: Dick.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Stuart Evans.
Referee: G Osman (Thame).
Attendance: 308
