Derbyshire Senior Cup Semi Final
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Tuesday, 25th January 2005, 7.45pm
It's the final for Rovers
"A potential banana skin" was how Gresley manager Gary Norton described this Derbyshire Senior Cup semi-final encounter with Glossop North End.
Rovers didn't slip up but had a more stern a task than the fixture may have looked on paper. However, the win ensured that they were in the final for the 12th time in their history.
Two minutes on the clock and Gresley had their first half chance. A clever back heel by Aaron O'Connor to Emeka Ejiofor saw the final shot go wide of the post.
Glossop's first chance came on 15 minutes when Rick Whelan put a shot wide after some defensive hesitation by the home side.
Ejiofor had an even better chance on 23 minutes when he capitalised on a mistake by Danny Yates but yet again the shot went flying past the upright.
The play swung to the other end and Gary Kharas was put through by a superb pass from Paul Nibloe and it took a breathtaking save from Dale Belford to deflect the ball away as it headed for the top corner of the net.
On 26 minutes Gresley took the lead. A long ball from Matt Smith saw Ejiofor beat visiting defender Andy Wheardon to it and the big striker fired a low shot past Glossop keeper Stuart Williams.
Five minutes later Ejiofor almost made it two but a smart save by Williams denied him. From the resulting corner Gresley skipper Smith was unlucky to see his header sail over the bar.
Gresley were now have nearly all of the attacking moves and pushing Glossop back deep into their own area. A pass from Ejiofor to Karl Brown on 35 minutes saw the winger fire over from just outside the area.
Andy Simpson got his head to an Andy Marlowe corner and saw the ball smash against a post and the rebound found Ejiofor who shot wide.
Just as the first half was coming to a close the visitors had one more chance. Loui Bovis hit a tremendous 30-yard shot that beat Belford but came back off the post.
Within five minutes of the second half O'Connor had a chance after receiving a fine pass from Brown but Williams blocked his shot.
On the hour O'Connor found himself one-on-one with Williams after another mistake by Wearden but the keeper stood up and did well to block the shot.
It was then the turn of Smith to make a slip allowing Kharas the chance to get his side back on terms but his shot curled away and past the far post.
Gresley needed another goal as they were looking uncomfortable holding on to just one goal lead and it came on 70 minutes.
A well worked corner saw Brown, instead of the usual in swinging ball, put a ball to the edge of the 18 yard box to O'Connor who cracked in a thunderous first time low shot that left Williams helpless.
Substitute Chris Freestone had two chances. The first on 84 minutes but his diving header went wide and then three minutes later he went even closer but this time the woodwork saved the visitors.
Glossop could have grabbed a consolation in time added on but Kharas put his header straight into the arms of Belford.
Manager's View
"It wasn't the prettiest of game in fairness but we've overcome difficult opposition tonight who worked hard. They caused problems on the break and were unlucky when they hit the post in the first half and a few other chances.
"Their No9 Gary Kharas has scored 25 goals this season and at any level that's a big feat but I thought at times we gave him a bit too much space and he nearly punished us when he got free down the left hand side in the second half. Dale had to make a cracking save to deny him as well.
"It was a potential banana skin but at the end of the day we've won the game and we are through which is the pleasing factor.
"We were a bit worried at one nil and as I said to the lads that although we hadn't had their No9 watched but anyone who had scored that amount of goals if we give him time and space he would hurt us. I though his effort in the second half was going in but it bent away just at the last minute.
"We are pleased with the win and the clean sheet but I'm very disappointed with the level of performance.
"Aaron O'Connor worked his socks off again tonight and he had another one on one which he missed but then he popped up with a cracking strike to kill the game for us. Emeka Ejiofor took his goal well but, if I'm being critical, we created a hatful of chances and we are not punishing sides and outing them away.
"We needed that second goal because I was not confident with the way things are going. We are low on confidence at the moment and we need to get to the cause of it but, yes, they both took their goals well. We should have had more it's as simple as that.
"I think Chris Freestone did a very good job when he came on, on Saturday and he's shown some really good touches tonight as well and maybe he was unlucky not to get a goal. Marc Laws came on and did us a job in there because we had to move Ashley Dodd out. Danny Cox came on at the end and it's another appearance for him in the first team so I was pleased for all three of them.
"I'm pleased for the squad as a whole because although we were rank favourites to go through you've still got to win these games. I've been at this club for several years in various capacities and seen us knocked out of this competition two or three times by sides from a lower level than us so it's pleasing to get through."
