UniBond League Division One
The Iron Gate Ground, Bamber Bridge
Tuesday, 20th September 2005, 7.45pm
A point at the Brig
Gresley Rovers came back from their first visit to the Iron Gate ground with a well-earned share of the points.
Manager Gary Norton described the game as a classic boxing match with both sides slugging it out and having chances to win it.
Gresley got off to a brisk start with Aaron O'Connor testing the resolve of Cyril Sharrock with a shot after just six minutes. Sharrock was back in action seven minutes later this time denying Nathan Tate who's header from Alan Davies' cross looked a certain goal but the keeper made a superb save to touch the ball round a post and away for a corner.
On 15 minutes Bridge had their first clear cut chance of the night when Chris Bennett met a cross from Jimmy King only to see the ball smash against a post and Jason Jones's shot from the rebound blocked by Gresley defender Matt Millns.
The home side got the break on 30 minutes when Andy Simpson tripped Bennett. Referee Mr Ackerman pointed to the spot and although James Pemberton went the right way he couldn't stop Bennett giving his side the lead.
Sharrock was needed to keep his side in front on 38 minutes when he tipped over Davies' cross-cum-shot.
The home side went close again in time added on at the end of the first half but was denied by a superb save from Pemberton when Bennett's first time shot was tipped over the bar.
Gresley had two chances in the early part of the second half with both Chris Gray and O'Connor firing shots that whistled just over the bar.
On 69 minutes James Shepherd had a glorious chance to double Bridge's advantage. In acres of space in the box he could only fire wide of the mark helped by a slight deflection.
Seconds later Bennett was gifted the ball by Gray but with only Pemberton to beat he chose the wrong option and shot but the Gresley keeper made a fine block.
On 74 minutes Gresley were on terms. Awarded a free kick Gary White swung the ball over to the far post where it was met by Millns who nodded in his fourth goal of the season.
Pemberton was on form and denied Bennett again with a superb block when the striker had only the keeper to beat just a minute later.
Gresley could have knicked all three points when O'Connor put a header just wide from a White corner; White then had a corner headed over the bar by a defender as it looked like it would creep into the net and then substitute Tony Hemmings saw a vicious shot take a coat of paint off the top of the bar.
Manager's View
"It felt like I'd watched a classic boxing match with both sides going for it. I'm not sure if I'm pleased, disappointed or frustrated - probably a bit of all three!
"They had some big moments when we were pushing forward and left ourselves exposed at the back and they had one or two good opportunities at 1-0 but James Pemberton has done fantastically well to keep us in the game.
"However, when we equalised there was only one team in it. We produced wave after wave of attacks and we had two or three good opportunities at the end, especially from set pieces.
"It keeps our little run going and a point away from home is good, but with a bit better finishing over the 90 minutes, we could have had a comfortable win.
"We have not played particularly well and we were a bit off it overall from recent games."
