Shepshed Dynamo vs Gresley Rovers
Stuart Ford showed why Rovers worked so hard this summer to get his signature by saving his new team from a possible pre-season up set at the Dovecote on Saturday.
The former Scarborough keeper made a string of crucial second half saves as Shepshed threatened to upset the Gresley applecart on a pitch better suited to roller hockey than soccer.
Former Rocester striker Glynn Stacey, ex-Moat second team runner Shane Riddell and one-time Stapenhill front-runner Ian Pitt were all thwarted by excellent saves during a 15-minute spell in which the home side exploited glaring central defensive shortcomings.
To sum up Shepshed's fortunes, when Pitt did slip the ball past the Rovers new boy in the 64th minute the ball rebounded into the keeper's hands off the inside of a post.
It was only in the closing stages that Rovers made their extra class and fitness tell.
Peter Darby had made just one save, from a Graeme Rigg free kick hit comfortably in the home keeper's direction, in the first half but did have to produce an excellent stop to keep out Peter Weston's 54th minute thumper towards the top corner.
But he finally capitulated in embarrassing style with just 10 minutes left, allowing Kirk Master's half-hit shot to sneak in at the foot of a post after David Taylor had impressively created the opening.
Three minutes later he was left helpless as Paul Dowell headed on Richard Wardle's right wing cross to leave Master looking at a big target.
Then he was forced to atone for his earlier blunder with a brilliant point blank stop from Taylor after Master had turner creator.
Moat chief Steve Dolby diplomatically chose not to mention Shepshed's uncompromising tactics afterwards despite seeing Taylor left in a heap by Colin Julian's cynical first half trip and Adie Mann carried off after a similarly despicable challenge by Mark Corbett, referee Hall ludicrously choosing both atrocities to pass with no more than a finger -wagging.
But he will be weighing up the cost of the outing today while assessing the eye-catching contributions in midfield of reserve team player Dowell and Nottingham based triallist Neil Glasser.
Shepshed Dynamo (0) 0
Gresley Rovers (0) 2
Scorer: Master 80, 83
Shepshed Dynamo: Darby, O'Kane (Gower 83), Alford, Caulton, Julian, Brooks (Jarram 79), Duffy, Corbett, Riddell, Pitt, Stacey (Phillips 84).
Gresley Rovers: Ford, R Wardle (Foster 45), Horseman, Rigg (Dowdell 45), P Wardle, harbey, Weston (Marsden 70), Fowkes (R Wardle 70), Marsden (Master 45), Mann (Glasser 53), Taylor.
Referee: R C Hall (Shepshed)
Attendance: 150
