Gresley Rovers vs Cheltenham Town
One momentary lapse flawed an otherwise magnificent defensive display by Gresley Rovers and allowed league leaders Cheltenham to return home from the Moat Ground with a point on Saturday.
Rovers, leading from the 38th minute thanks to Mark Blount's first league goal at the Moat, were subjected to withering second half pressure but refused to buckle.
Only when manager Steve Dolby was forced into a late reshuffle because of an injury to Tony Marsden were the Robins allowed to find a hole in the Rovers' blanket defence, enabling Lee Howells to fire in a 76th minute equaliser.
Earlier in the season that might have proved a turning point, but Dolby confessed: "We hung on to what we'd got at that stage. I honestly thought we were going to win the game, because we'd defended superbly and protected Bob Aston's goal so well he hadn't really had a shot to save."
A double substitution was the key to Town's revival, Christer Warren providing the left wing cross and Jason Eaton the flick on that left the unmarked Howells to volley past Aston's dive.
The Moat Ground's new striker Chris Hanks had a quiet debut, showing the occasional flash of skill but never really getting the service he required.
Hanks had provided Rovers' first goal attempt, forcing former Welsh international keeper Martin Thomas to save at the second attempt with a 20-yard effort created by Marsden and Martin Devaney.
When Cheltenham threatened through Jimmy Smith, Nick Stanborough and Mark Blount were quick to block successive shots, then Blount whipped the ball off the centre forward's toes after Howells had crossed from the right.
Gradually, though, it was Rovers who were taking control and Thomas had to stretch to the limit to take Devaney's cross off Marsden's head.
Then, when Town skipper Neil Smith blocked Richard Wardle's run illegally on the edge of the box, Richard Denby rolled the free kick into Blounts path and the full back's 22-yard shot deflected past Thomas off defender Bob Bloomer.
It was a deserved lead and Hanks almost doubled it with a debut goal but his curling effort from wide on the right floated just over the bar.
It was a different tale after the break but as the Robins gradually stepped up the pressure Rovers defended like demons, with Stanborough and especially Stuart Evans defiant in the face of a tide of attacks.
Aston had still not produced a save of note when the visitors levelled. But he ensured Rovers got at least a share of the spoils when he kept out Eaton's low shot within a minute of the equaliser.
Another goal for Cheltenham then would have been a cruel blow – and one Rovers' defensive heroes had done far too well to deserve. Equally, though, it would have been a steal if Hanks had managed a touch to Devaney's excellent near post cross from the left in the dying minutes.
Gresley Rovers (1) 1
Cheltenham Town (0) 1
Scorers: Blount 38 (Gresley Rovers); Howells 76 (Cheltenham Town)
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Blount, Rigg, Loss, Evans, Stanborough, Wardle, Denby, Hanks, Devaney, Marsden (Reddin 75). Sub not used: Hurst.
Cheltenham Town: Thomas, Bloomer, Jones, Tucker, N Smith, Brown, Howells, Owen , J Smith, Mortimore (Warren 60), Lovell (Eaton 60).
Gresley man-of-the-match: Stuart Evans
Referee: G S Haselwood (Redditch)
Attendance: 811
