Gresley Rovers vs Corby Town
As great nights at the Moat Ground go, this wasn't one. The wind, the rain, the unambitious and uncompromising visitors and Gresley's own lack of invention together combined to make Rovers' attempt to make a lucrative Dr Martens Southern League Cup semi-final date with neighbours Burton Albion a virtual non-event.
The hardy faithful who turned out on the night unfit for a dog to go walkies must have harked back to previous cup dates at the Moat, such as when Bromsgrove Rovers laid on a memorable FA Cup feast back in September.
Proof, if ever any was needed, that it takes two to tango. And Corby are not sought after dance partners in any company – they'd just as soon tread on your toes as give you a twirl.
When Moat boss Steve Dolby, seeking to draw some positive conclusions from a dour display, said afterwards that he was "pleased with the clean sheet" he might well have added: "but not as pleased as they are."
Indeed, one suspected the Rovers chief might have been wrong when he predicted beforehand that the Steelmen would come to South Derbyshire looking for a win at the first attempt.
For this was a game riddled with stoppages, petty skirmishes, shapeless scraps and not much soccer – just, one suspects, what Corby wanted.
The early minutes flattered to deceive. When Richard Denby threaded a pass of the finest vintage into the path of Martin Devaney and Chris Moore fired his strike partner's cross the wrong side of a post in the fourth minute it might have been taken as a sign of better things to come. In fact it was Rovers' best move of the game and the nearest they came to a goal.
Corby, too, produced some of their best stuff early on. A minute after Moore's miss, Anton Thomas's pace hustled Graeme Rigg into an error on the right of goal and when Mick Cook profited with a far post cross Graeme Archer dipped a shot over the bar.
Then, when Denby's attempted pass out of defence hit Colin Loss on the heel in the 10th minute, the ball landed nicely for Cook to fire a 22-yard effort against Bob Aston's crossbar.
The rest of the half was spent in hustle and bustle and not much else, although Rovers did manage to build up momentum towards the break and Moore was unlucky that Chris Mackenzie was perfectly to save when he hit Devaney;s pass with a first time shot.
There was little discernable change in the pattern of the game despite the fact that Corby now had the considerable wind advantage in their favour.
The Steelmen were happy to sit back and battle it out and Rovers were reduced to just two half chances. Moore running onto Blount's pass but firing into the side netting then cutting in from the right flank to drive a fierce low cross that Mackenzie palmed down and was relieved to see hooked away by a defensive colleague.
With a minute to left Corby almost added insult to indignity. Cook and Archer worked the ball across the field and full back Pat Rayment, bursting from deep on the right, met it at full belt with a screaming drive that Aston tipped masterfully to safety. At least those who'd stuck it out had seen something to savour – from both sides.
Gresley Rovers (0) 0
Corby Town (0) 0
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Blount, Rigg, Loss, Evans, Stanborough, Wardle (Hurst 85), Denby, Moore, Devaney, Marsden. Sub not used: Elliott.
Corby Town: Mackenzie, Rayment, Collins, Keast, McElhinney, Gunn, Devine, Archer, Plummer, Cook, Thomas. Subs not used: McInerney, Retallick.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Stuart Evans.
Referee: D Adcock (Long Eaton)
Attendance: 504
