Cinderford Town vs Gresley Rovers
Frustration for Rovers - Burton Mail
The only thing consistent about Gresley Rovers is their inconsistency. Only
24 hours after winning an enthralling encounter at Redditch, there were no performances
in front of the back four to enthuse about.
Against a Cinderford side whose no-nonsense approach, Rovers' central defenders,
Barry Woolley and Carl Middleton had few moments to relax.
Apart from the opening and closing 10 minutes, Gresley rarely looked like breaching
the home defence but in a promising start, both Neil Kitching and Simon Tucker
both went close.
Then, after linking neatly with Paul Grant, Tucker saw a low drive parried
to safety by Andy Fisher.
On 39 minutes Gareth Hopkins squandered a good opportunity to put Cinderford
ahead but headed Steve Campbell's cross wide when well placed.
With Gresley defending far too deeply after the break, Cinderford took the
game by the scruff of the neck, Hopkins turning neatly in the box before seeing
his far-post cross steered wide by Adie Harris.
Then after Mark Sheils had produced a superb reflex save to keep out Mark Richards'
close-range chance, Hopkins follow-up thwarted by Richard Wardle's goal-line
clearance.
The all-important goal arrived on 55 minutes, Harris having got round the back
of Neil Broadhurst before crossing for Richards to fire into the roof of the
net at the near post.
Seven minutes later Clayton Hook could have cemented the home side's victory
but headed over Ian Howell's cross from close in.
The belated introduction of Paul Willson and John McGinlay sparked a late Gresley
revival with Woolley's header forcing Fisher into a rare save following Matt
warren's free-kick.
But at least Rovers' long suffering fans were given something to smile about
at the Valley Stadium on Saturday after their team won for the first time in
seven games.
Rovers, reduced to 10 men after the second half sending-off of Jamie Roberts
who pushed veteran striker Nicky Cross in retaliation for a foul but might have
felled the striker with a sledge hammer from the way the Redditch man reacted,
produced their most expansive display of John McGinlay's reign to deservedly
triumph in a game pockmarked by outbreaks of ill temper and poor refereeing.
It looked like being more of the usual fare as Ian Bennett shot Redditch ahead
with just 70 seconds gone after avoiding two half-hearted challenges on the
edge of the Gresley box.
Another defeat seemed certain when the former Stapenhill striker struck again
on 33 minutes after Mark Sheils had failed to hold Scott Colcombe's shot.
Rovers raised their game however and deservedly pulled a goal back when Roberts
despatched a cracking drive from 25-yards after Redditch had failed to clear
Richard Gardner's corner.
With surprise choice Willson never allowing the home side to relax at the back
and Redditch keeper Harvey Willetts clearly injured, Rovers sensed there was
a way back into the contest and after Willson had done well to force Nigel Niblett
into a poor clearance, Broadhurst's pass allowed Tucker to beat the keeper at
his near post with a smartly struck drive from 16-yards.
Rovers were incensed when referee Martin Forder capped a thoroughly dismal
display by awarding a penalty after Woolley's challenge on Cross.
The referee appeared to be the only person in the ground to be taken in by
the Redditch player-manager's apparent dive but Bennett duly completed his hat-trick
from the spot.
Justice seemed to be done when Middleton's free-kick caught Redditch square
and Tucker lobbed his second but there was more fun and games to come.
Roberts was dismissed for retaliating after a poor challenge from Cross which
escaped punishment but the 10 men refused to give up the fight.
With 10 minutes to go they reaped their reward as Willetts spilled a Mark Peters'
corner and McGinlay headed in.
Cinderford Town (0) 1
Gresley Rovers (0) 0
Scorer: Richards 55
Cinderford: Fisher, Donnelly, Howell, Richards, Hook, Hunt, Campbell
(Tomkins 90), Thomas, Hopkins, Addy, Harris: subs not used: Iddies, Macken
Rovers: Shiels, Bluck (Warren 74), Gardner, Broadhurst (McGinlay 80),
Woolley, Middleton, Wardle, Grant, Kitching (Willson 78), Tucker, Coates.
Rovers
Star Man: Carl Middleton - vital clearances kept scoreline respectable.
Referee: R Davies (Brize Norton).
Attendance: 154
Redditch United (2) 3
Gresley Rovers (1) 4
Scorers: Bennett 2, 33, 61 (pen)(Redditch United); Roberts 37, Tucker 56,
65, McGinlay 80 (Gresley Rovers).
Redditch United: Willetts, Mitchell, Darlison, Knight, Niblett (Hughes
78), Myers, Hall, Benbow, Cross (Swann 74), Bennett, Colcombe (Danks 35).
Gresley Rovers: Shiels, Roberts, Gardner, Broadhurst, Woolley, Middleton,
Wardle (McGinlay 57), Peters, Willson, Tucker, Coates. Subs not used: Warren,
Kitching.
Rovers
Star Man: Barry Woolley - another commanding display.
Referee: M Forder (Hereford).
Attendance: 182
