Hednesford Town vs Gresley Rovers
Gresley fans showed what they thought of their team's latest display in both action and word at the Cross Keys Ground last night.
Many were on their way back to South Derbyshire before the end of another bitterly disappointing display by Steve Dolby's team while others vented their wrath to leave Rovers' management and directors in no doubt of the growing terrace dissatisfaction.
Dolby's problem has never been more obvious than it was last night. He is desperately in need of an influx of new blood, more specifically a striker capable of converting hlf decent chances into goals.
Rovers had plenty of those last night, the first coming after just 30 seconds when Graeme Rigg's pass caught the Hednesford defence flat and Mark Hurst raced clear along the left into a one-on-one with Town keeper Paul Hayward.
But the little striker set the tone for the evening by firing dismally straight at the outstretched Hayward's legs.
It was a wicked miss but within minutes it was forgotten as Rovers surged into the lead.
Dolby had predicted beforehand that Hednesford's defence could prove vulnerable and after just three minutes it rang true.
Tony Marsden collected a poor clearance and again released Hurst, this time for a run at the right side of the Hednesford box.
Hurst's cross was not a particularly good one, Marsden following up, was able to collect the ball from behind him, turn and fire a measured shot high into the top corner of Hayward's net.
The goal lifted Rovers and three minutes later only an excellent save deprived them a second goal, Marsden, Hurst and Richard Wardle combining set up Mark Blount for a fierce drive that Hayward pushed from under the bar.
The visitors were on top and in control and when Marsden and Richard Denby combined in midfield Hurst was on his way again, but this time he fired a cross shot wide after again escaping down the left.
Typically of Rovers' luck, Hednesford equalised four minutes later with a highly debatable goal.
Mark Hallam was clearly yards offside when Denby attempted to volley Bob Aston's clearance down the field but the Rovers' skipper miscued to put the Town number nine in possession.
Stuart Jones failed to connect with his low cross but that merely had the effect of wrong-footing the Gresley defence and Tyrone Street pounced to blast a low drive into the bottom corner of Aston's net.
Rovers' response was a blistering Colin Loss free kick that flew straight at Hayward but then Marsden was injured in a clash with Street that earned the Town striker the first of the night's six bookings and somehow the Gresley momentum dipped.
The home team were now in control and Stuart Jones almost fired them ahead with a low drive that Aston watched as it rebounded off the foot of a post then again with a long range effort that flew just wide.
Rovers responded grittily and as the game entered its final third Hednesford's threat was diminishing as Rovers rose again.
Denby saw a corner scrambled off the line, then Richard Wardle did well to create the opening for a right wing cross that Hurst met first time at the near post only for Hayward to produce another good save.
Then Stuart Evans met another Denby corner with a firm header but again the ball was hacked off the line.
One suspected that Rovers might rue so many missed chances and so it proved in the 82nd minute. Hednesford had once more found the rhythm and when Dale Rudge centred from the right substitute Kim Green laid the ball off perfectly for Street to fire in a stunning volley that hit the top corner of the net before Aston or any of his defenders had time to blink.
Still Rovers might have made something of the game with their first attack from the restart. Denby's free kick was missed by Hayward but Blount, with the goal gaping somehow contrived to fie against a post from six yards when it looked easier to score.
Aston was lucky to escape with a rash charge from his area that ended with Paul Jones firing wide of an empty net from 40 yards, but Rovers' misery was finally complete in the 88th minute.
Hallam was once again clearly offside as he broke clear down the right but with the linesman well behind play the striker was allowed to skip clear and cross into the danger area where Street's shot deflected off Evans, leaving substitute Matt Wallace with a simple tap-in.
Hednesford Town (1) 3
Gresley Rovers (1) 1
Scorers: Street 17.82, Wallace 88 (Hednesford Town); Marsden 3 (Gresley Rovers).
Hednesford Town: Hayward, Rudge, Collins, Freeman, Dunphy, P Jones, Fitzpatrick, S Jones (Wallace 67), Hallam, Street, Bannister (Green 72).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Blount, Rigg, Loss, Evans, Stanborough, Wardle, Denby, Hurst, Deveney (Moore 74), Marsden (Elliott 54).
Gresley man-of-the-match: Colin Loss
Referee: J Hubbard (Leicester)
Attendance: 533
