Rugby United vs Gresley Rovers
Allsop's on Target - Mail Sports Staff - Burton Mail
Kevin
Allsop, making his first start for almost a month, notched his inaugural league
goal of the season to earn Gresley Rovers three valuable points at Rugby United.
In a performance heavily laden with commitment rather than quality, Rovers
missed two excellent opportunities to kill off the game while riding their luck
on a couple of occasions in an ill-tempered affair.
There was little evidence of any Christmas spirit as Rugby had six players
cautioned, including Jason Woodley who was sent off for his second offence in
the 87th minute.
Rovers - who had earlier seen debutant Phil McGring, Mark Peters and Ian Bluck
booked - were reduced to 10 men in the 62nd minute for foul and abusive language.
Peters
reacted angrily to racial abuse and taunts from the home side's Rob Beard and
while Hitchin referee Carl Couzens failed to spot the incident, he with the
full support of Rugby United who have promised to punish the player, will send
in a covering letter to the Football Association along with Peters' sending
off form.
As the final whistle blew, angry Rugby United supporters made a beeline towards
their management team and vented their displeasure at Beard's totally unacceptable
behaviour.
High-ranking Hertfordshire FA official Couzens also promised to send a copy
of his report to Gresley.
In a lively start by the Moatmen, top scorer Simon Tucker twice went close
either side of Bluck heading wide after Matt Warren had nodded on Peters' corner.
It took the home side some 15 minutes to trouble debutant keeper McGring who
became the fifth different occupant of the ill-fated green jersey this season.
McGring, playing his first competitive game since the end of August, punched
unconvincingly at Lee Darlison's corner before Scott Machin's shot was charged
down by Andy Cheetham.
Rovers made the all-important breakthrough on 24 minutes when Tucker's right-wing
cross eluded Neil Broadhurst before dropping to Allsop who dutifully punished
some non-existent marking by drilling home a left footed shot from 12 yards.
McGring, having made a sprawling save to deny Chris Goodman, recovered quickly
to save Jason Woodley's follow up attempt, after parrying clear Machin's initial
effort.
Within a minute of the restart Broadhurst could have doubled Rovers' advantage
but placed his shot just wide.
Amrit Sidhu skilfully carved out a shooting opportunity for Tucker whose first
time effort landed wide of its target.
Controversy reigned on the hour when Beard, although fouled by McGring, looked
to have had a free shot at goal until referee Couzens brought play back to award
the home side a free-kick.
Teenager Sidhu missed a golden chance to take pressure off Gresley just minutes
after Peters' dismissal when he eased his way past to defenders but placed his
shot wide with only Paul Beresford to beat.
Despite their one-man advantage, Rugby's only serious threat to level came
on 78 minutes when McGring misjudged Marvin Marston's through ball which appeared
to be entering the net when Jason Roberts produced a superbly timed goal-line
clearance as Beard closed.
As the home side's frustration grew they doubled their previous yellow card
count of three to six in the final 10 minutes while Warren went within inches
of making it 2-0 on 82 minutes with a 35 yard free-kick.
Gresley Rovers (1) 1
Rugby United (0) 0
Scorer: Allsop 24 (Gresley Rovers)
Rugby United: Beresford, O'Brien, Darlison, Marston, Redgate, Woodley,
Goodman, Halford, Vincent (O'Toole 56), Machin, Beard; subs not used: Spacey
and Irvine.
Gresley Rovers: McGring, Roberts, Cheetham, Bluck, Warren, Broadhurst,
Wardle, Peters, Allsop, Tucker, Sidhu (Allum 70); subs not used: Doughty and
Wagstaff.
Rovers
star man: Kevin Allsop - out to prove a point.
Referee: C Couzens (Hitchin)
Attendance: 261
