Gresley Rovers vs Chesterfield
Bob's job at risk - Andy Parker - Burton Mail
Bob Aston's long reign as Gresley Rovers' first-choice keeper could be under threat after triallist Stuart Ford took the limelight at the Moat Ground last night.
For, impressive as a second half substitute in Thursday's friendly with Crewe, took the keeper's jersey from the lick off and kept Rovers in the game with a string of excellent saves.
The 24-year-old former Doncaster keeper, who made 20 Endsleigh appearances for Scarborough and also played League football for Rotherham, pulled off an impressive one handed reaction stop from Paul Moulden's close range effort came off his line to deny Jonathon Howard with a spreading save then topped the lot with a stretching dive to push away another thumping effort from Moulden.
Ford even got in the way of Moulden's 27th minute shot with Rovers defence disembowelled but the former Birmingham striker had merely to nod the loose ball goalwards to put Chesterfield, thoroughly deservedly, ahead.
Gresley produced their best spell just before the interval with newcomer Peter Weston stinging the hands of keeper Andy Beasley with a well-struck left foot shot from 20-yards in the 32nd minute and Dave Taylor flashing a right foot shot just over from the left corner of the box in the 41st, but Chesterfield merely stepped up their control after the break.
Aston resumed his familiar stance of over 400 games for Rovers but was frequently left exposed as Gresley, given no time throughout to settle on the ball and running out of steam as the Spireites kept possession, were taken apart.
Half time substitute Kevin Davies should soon have increased the visitors' lead only to fluff his chance when clean through. Two minutes later he strode clear again and this time gave Aston's exposed net a thorough stretching.
Triallist Brendan Aspinall forced his way past a wilting but hitherto impressive Adie Meyer to finish Rovers off, although in a late rally Gresley produced their best spell since the first half.
The enigmatic figure of Kirk Master emerged from the bench to provide what late threat Rovers could muster, the little striker's direct style at last threatening to ruffle Chesterfield's defensive feathers.
No way could Rovers' best efforts sway the destiny of the Derbyshire Rosebowl, however, and Aston, having produced a fine double save to keep the score down, was finally easily beaten by the giant Andy Morris' free header and was lucky not to concede a fifth when he cleared st5raight to the feet of Tom Curtis.
Gresley Rovers (0) 0
Chesterfield (1) 4
