Gresley Rovers vs Alfreton Town
Holmes has final word – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
David Holmes shot Gresley into the final of the Derbyshire Senior Cup at the Moat Ground last night – thanks to a blasting from his team-mates.
The 21-year-old striker first won a penalty then scored a dramatic late winner to overturn Alfreton Town's half-time advantage before confessing: "The lads gave me some stick in the first half and said I wasn't trying – but I think I run it for them in the second."
Holmes – indeed Rovers as a whole – were dismal before the break but wore down their Northern Premier Division One visitors in the second with the youngster a key figure in their victory.
It could have been fellow frontrunner Mark Hurst who was picking up the plaudits afterwards as the diminutive striker taken advantage of two glaring first half chances.
The number nine first shot against keeper Paul Norton after being put clear by Stuart Evans' header, hitting the rebound disappointingly wide, then fired another glaring chance straight at Norton after Richard Wardle had knocked Holmes' cross into a good scoring position with 38 minutes gone.
Between times, Alfreton had taken the game to their hosts with some style, and it was hardly surprising when they took the lead two minutes before the interval, skipper Steve Johnson turning Paul Eshelby's drive into the net after Bob Aston had punched out a right wing cross.
Alfreton must have fancied their chances and Gresley did little to suggest they might overturn the deficit despite a discernable increase in the urgency of their efforts after the break.
Holmes almost set up Hurst only for Norton to swiftly block the chance but then Aston had to be at his sharpest to save at the feet of winger Bob Davies before seeing Johnson's 25-yard drive fly inches wide of his goal.
Rovers replaced the out-of-sorts Graeme Rigg with Tony Marsden but the change had little immediate effect and Alfreton were desperately unlucky not to go further ahead when Eshleby crashed a shot against the bar only for Aston to grasp Dawes' shot from the rebound when a goal seemed inevitable.
That was the cue for Rovers to suddenly step into gear and skipper Stuart Evans forced Norton into a tremendous tip-over save Martin Dick's cross as the Moatmen suddenly turned possession into genuine threat.
The Dick's excellent pass along the right released Holmes for a run at the Alfreton defence and the bustling striker rode one challenge only to go down under the next and Rovers were back in the game from the penalty spot.
Even then there was drama as Ian Straw's first spot kick was ruled out but referee Morrison for encroachment, but the midfielder kept his cool to slot in the retake and hand his team a lifeline.
Alfreton strove to restore their advantage but were visibly shaken and the industrious Richard Wardle was close to a winner after picking up on Holmes' flicked pass.
Holmes then set up another chance that Straw drove over the bar on the turn before finally settling the issue himself.
Marsden created the chance with a ball along the left and Holmes' pace and tenacity took him clear to fire in a shot that Norton, hobbling after an earlier injury, bravely blocked but could not prevent from looping up and dropping under the bar.
Hurst then had a chance to atone for his earlier misses from Devaney's through ball but once again shot straight at the keeper to leave Rovers to nervously battle out the final minutes as Alfreton fought boldly right to the final whistle.
Gresley Rovers (0) 2
Alfreton Town (1) 1
Scorers: Straw 72 (pen), Holmes 86 (Gresley Rovers); Johnson 43 (Alfreton Town).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Dick, Swainston, Straw, Evans, Stanborough, Wardle, Rigg (Marsden 65), Hurst, Holmes, Devaney.
Alfreton Town: Norton, Weston, Glenister, Kenworthy, Peach, Johnson, Eshelby, Walsh, Stafford, McFazdean, Dawes (Risdale 79). Sub not used: Smart.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Richard Wardle.
Referee: D Morrison (Denby).
Attendance: 409
