Stamford vs Gresley Rovers
Brave Simon fights in vain - Burton Mail
Gresley's Dr Martens Cup hopes were doused at Newflame Stadium last night despite
the heroics of teenage goalkeeper Simon Baldwin.
The 16-year-old Newhall student did everything he could to keep Rovers afloat
in the second round tie after answering boss McGinlay's SOS.
Baldwin, asked to travel as cover, found himself thrust into the limelight
when Phil McGing failed to arrive in time.
McGing won't forget his birthday in a hurry. Having recovered from a car breakdown,
he rang for directions to the Lincolnshire ground only to get lost. He eventually
arrived just before the interval - too late to see Stamford notch the only goal.
Playing with a strong wind behind their backs, Stamford quickly gained the
upper hand with Baldwin given plenty of opportunities to impress, saving at
the feet of Dennis Rhule before tipping over Martin Hardy's firmly driven free-kick.
However, there was little that the youngster could do to prevent Hardy from
grabbing the decisive goal from the penalty spot in the 19th minute when he
sent Baldwin the wrong way following Ian Bluck's challenge on the lively Malcolm
Ndweke.
On 33 minutes Gresley lost Carl Middleton, who was studded on the top of his
foot while trying to retrieve a misplaced cross field pass from Bluck.
Soon afterwards Rovers had a rare scoring opportunity when Kevin Allsop collected
Richard Wardle's pass and wrong-footed John Challinor before shooting just wide
of the right-hand post.
With the direct running of Rhule and Ndweke continuing to stretch them, Rovers
were further hampered by driving rain, which turned an already heavy pitch into
a quagmire.
Baldwin left his line quickly to foil Rhule before Dave Staff fired over from
the rebound. And after keeping out Hardy's wind-assisted free kick, the youth
team keeper produced possibly his best save of the night on the stroke of half
time to foil Matt Green.
Home keeper Steve Corry tipped over in swinging corners from Ritchie Gardner
and Mark Peters, but it was the home side that continued to look the most likely
to score with Baldwin twice thwarting Rhule.
The impressive Jamie Roberts picked out Peters, who's cross-cum-shot brushed
the far post. Even the introduction of player-manager John McGinlay for shin-injury
victim Gardner failed to spark a Rovers side that all too frequently shot themselves
in the foot with a succession of misplaced passes.
Baldwin spared the Moatmen of an even heavier beating by saving from both Nick
Ashby and Ndweke in the closing stages as Rovers' last chance of winning any
silverware this season disappeared.
Stamford (1) 1
Gresley Rovers (0) 0
Scorer: Hardy 19 (pen).
Stamford: Corry, Staff, Hardy, Ashby, Clyde, Green, Donald, Challinor,
Rhule, Ndweke, Donaldson: subs: Keeble, Tungaykorkmaz, Mitchell.
Gresley Rovers: Baldwin, Roberts, Middleton (Coates 33), Bluck, Reynolds,
Broadhurst, Wardle, Peters, Allsop, Tucker, Gardner (McGinlay 75): sub not used:
Norton.
Rovers
Star Man: Simon Baldwin - save kept Gresley in contention.
Referee: Mr A Woolmer (Northampton).
Attendance: 100
