Blakenall vs Gresley Rovers
Neil leaves it late at 'Nall - Andy Parker - Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers were heading for a rare point at Blakenhall on Saturday - until
Neil Broadhurst popped up to make it three with virtually the last kick of the
game.
The midfielder's first goal of the season gave Rovers a victory they just about
deserved after producing most of the football in a dire game that, but for Broadhurst's
scrambled winner, would have been entirely forgettable.
Player-manager John McGinlay, in charge for a Dr Martens Western Division game
for the first time, put the win down to improved fitness and a willingness to
keep battling right to the end, and Rovers certainly had to do that.
From the opening whistle it was clear that the Moatmen would have to overcome
Blakenhall's strong physical challenge if they were to return from the suburbs
of Walsall with anything other than their usual defeat and, in the opening stages,
it seemed they would not be up to it.
Only a string of saves from Phil McGing kept the Moatmen in the game early
on as Blakenhall went for the jugular, the former Witton Albion No1 keeping
out ex-Kidderminster winger John Worsey's 25-yard free kick then denying the
same player as the number seven fired in a close-range snap shot.
Lee Bullimore was next to be frustrated, the striker seeing a header fielded
by McGing as Rovers rode the storm.
With McGinlay making his full debut playing just behind Simon Tucker, Rovers
began to piece their game together, the player-boss's cultured flick releasing
his strike partner for an angled 22-yarder that flew just past the top corner.
Then another McGinlay prompt allowed Richard Wardle to pick out Richie Gardner
but the 'Nall old boy fired straight at keeper Matthew Lowe.
With Rovers already deprived of Matt Warren with a recurrence of a hamstring
injury, McGinlay's men were forced into a major reshuffle at half time after
full back Andy Cheetham went off with a back injury.
But with the steep slope now in their favour, Gresley began to look a better
bet even though McGing had to top his earlier saves with an athletic leap to
keep out striker Les Palmer's close-range header.
Tucker, substitute Kevin Allsop and Gardner all fluffed chances to test Lowe
in a frantic penalty area melee before Broadhurst's drive was deflected over
with Mark Peters then firing high after Allsop had done well to set up the chance.
Worsey remained Blakenhall's main danger man with a close-range shot hitting
the bar and a 22-yarder flying just over, but the closest the home side came
to ruining Rovers' day came with the 90 minutes up, Palmer outwitting Ian Bluck
and sending a long range lob just over the bar.
Just as the game seemed set to end goalless however, Gardner escaped on the
left and crossed to where Allsop drilled in a low shot Lowe could not hold and
Broadhurst gleefully bundled the loose ball into the net.
Gresley Rovers (0) 1
Blakenall (0) 0
Scorer: Broadhurst 92 (Gresley Rovers).
Blakenhall: Lowe, Harper, Hillman, Thompson, Salmon, Simms (Cooper 88),
Worsey, Walker, Palmer, Bullimore (Coppin 81), Rochester, Sub not used: Brookes.
Gresley Rovers: McGing, Roberts, Cheetham (Allsop 45), Bluck, Warren,
(Middleton 14), Broadhurst, Wardle, McGinlay (Dennis 77), Peters, Tucker, Gardner.
Rovers
Star Man: Richard Wardle - showed his versatility yet again.
Referee: C D Sarginson (Rugeley).
Attendance: 166
