Gresley Rovers vs Hednesford Town
Four star Rovers
Rovers should have had this match against Dr Martens Premier League Hednesford
Town sewn up by half time if they had taken all the chances presented to them.
Neil Kitching should have given Rovers the lead in the fifth minute when he
latched on to a long clearance by captain Ian Bluck only to see his lob fall
wide leaving keeper Mark Gayle helpless.
Hednesford midfielder Scott Bonsall had two good chances to give the visitors
the lead, first hitting a fierce shot straight into James Lindley's arms and
then failing to connect with a Tom Griffiths' cross.
On 24 minutes a neat move by the Pitmen ended with right-back Richard Lucas
curling a shot just wide of Lindley's post.
Rovers missed what was perhaps the best chance when a Chris Gray free kick
was cleared only out as far as Lee Westwood who flighted a ball into the area
but Barry Woolley could not keep his free header on target from eight yards.
The Moatmen were then forced to defend three consecutive corners as Hednesford
began to apply pressure. Bonsall missing the target twice from inside the area.
Another chance went begging for the home side on 37 minutes when Gray put his
weak header wide from a cross from Westwood.
But it was not long before the breakthrough came. Westwood skipped past an
untidy challenge and burst into the area. David Shaw got the slightest of touches
to his cross and John Allcock was on hand to fire his first Rovers goal into
the net.
The second half saw both teams more determined. Stuart Evans was forced to
head over the bar a Griffiths' cross and Westwood blasted a shot well over after
being put clean through on substitute keeper Chris Wood.
On 51 minutes Lindley pulled off a great save by tipping over Brown's header
from Griffiths' cross.
A mistake by Wood, who failed to collect a cross, gifted Westwood another golden
chance on 58 minutes but his shot was well blocked by a defender.
The night got worse for Wood two minutes later when he failed to collect a
free kick and Woolley fired Rovers into a 2 - 0 lead.
Both sides made substitutions with Hednesford's former Aston Villa striker
almost making an impact. Neil Davis first set up a great chance for Robbie Meachem
but his shot was dragged wide of the post and moments later Davis himself heading
just wide.
Three minutes from time Kevin Allsop raced on to a ball only to see Wood smother
his effort.
Then in injury time Rovers added to Hednesford's woe by scoring twice, the
first by Chris Parkins and then Allsop finishing well. Both goals set up by substitute
Shaun Bedward.
After the match, John McGinlay said he was delighted with how his team had
played and especially with the solid defensive partnership of former Moat favourite
Stuart Evans and Barry Woolley.
Gresley Rovers (1) 4
Hednesford Town (0) 0
Scorers: Allcock 43, Woolley 68, Parkins 90, Allsop 90.
Gresley Rovers: Lindley, Bluck (A Brown 77), Cheetham (Middleton 77),
Allcock (Wardle 70), Woolley, Evans (Hautin 70), Gray (Bedward 70), Westwood,
Kitching (Parkin 70), Shaw (Allsop 77), Green (Peters 77).
Hednesford Town: Gayle (Wood 45), Lucas (Simpson 45), Griffiths, Shakespeare,
Haran (Curtis 45), Lake, Hopkins (Airdrie 67), Bonsall, L Brown, Pickess (Davis
77), Meachem (Lancashire 80).
Referee: T Sim (Winshill).
Attendance: 287
