Paget Rangers vs Gresley Rovers
Keeper Rage Aids Moatmen - Burton Mail
For 45 minutes one goal looked as though it would be enough last
night to win a Vale Stadium encounter notable only for its lack of incident.
Then, in a repeat of their early-season visit to Gresley, Paget's
lack of discipline left them a man short while another three players found their
way into Rugeley referee Chris Sarginson's notebook - invited the Moatmen to
complete their first double of the season. Paget goalkeeper Gary Price fumed
after being sent off claiming that Gresley striker Kevin Allsop had studded
him in the chest.
Referee Sarginson's view of the incident was somewhat different.
He said: "As I saw it the Gresley striker (Allsop) attempted to step over the
Paget keeper (Price) - if there was any contact it was minimal, but when the
keeper aimed a kick at the Gresley player he gave me no option but to send him
off".
To compound the home side's anger Steve Cooper's first task after
donning the vacant keeper's jersey was to pick the ball out of the net after
Mark Peters had sent him the wrong way from the penalty spot.
It was Peters' third successful penalty conversion, making him
Gresley's top scorer. Looking to consolidate their advantage, Gresley could
have twice added to their lead during the opening five minutes of the second
half.
Neil Broadhurst headed in Ritchie Gardner's right wing corner
only to see his effort ruled out for a pushing infringement.
Then home skipper Richard Brown cleared to safety after Simon
Tucker's goal bound shot eluded stand-in keeper Cooper.
Tucker had better luck in the 67th minute, swivelling onto Peters'
pass before scoring with a shot that entered the net via the left hand post
from 15 yards.
Richard Selby was forced into a rare contribution to punch away
Kirk Maragh's cross before on loan striker Simon Hollis could profit.
Peters was the provider again as his diagonal pass picked out
Tucker, who looked suspiciously like he was offside.
As Paget waited in vain for an offside decision, Tucker kept focused
to drive a low shot into the far corner.
Selby's otherwise untroubled evening was completed when Hollis'
injury time effort rebound to safety off the base of the right hand post.
Paget Rangers (0) 0
Gresley Rovers (1) 3
Scorers: Peters 45, Tucker 67, 78.
Paget Rangers: Price, Abell, Walker, Brown (Burdon 88),
Ruddock, Watson (Lee 70), Yates, Rowe (Benjamin 76), Cooper, Hollis, Maragh.
Gresley Rovers: Selby, Broadhurst (Roberts 84), Gardner,
Doughty, Warren, Bluck, Wardle, Coates (Reynolds 87), Allsop, Tucker (Sandar
84), Peters.
Referee: C Sarginson (Rugeley)
Attendance: 103
