Gresley Rovers vs Nuneaton Borough
Gresley Rovers buried the memory of their dismal weekend defeat at Bashley with a glorious attacking display at the Moat Ground last night.
Manager Steve Dolby had billed the Moatmen's relegation crunch match with Nuneaton as a cup final and Rovers responded by tearing Borough to shreds with a truly thrilling display.
Nuneaton, now surely doomed to a swift return to the Beazer Midland Division they won so impressively last season, were swept away as Rovers concentrated all their efforts on fully exposing their visitors' defensive weaknesses.
Wonder boy David Holmes was again Rovers' main weapon but strike partners Mark Hurst and Martin Devaney both took their opportunities to blast Rovers to their first double of the season.
The Moatmen needed to produce a good performance after their dismal weekend and Nuneaton obliged by collapsing under an early onslaught - although Rovers than had to show their character to come back from 2-1 down as defensive errors appeared to have handed Borough a lifeline.
Rovers' game plan was clearly to put Borough's suspect rearguard under scrutiny at every opportunity and Holmes' pace soon had the visitors backpedalling, only a despairing tackle from Jim Rodwell robbing the quicksilver youngster of a breakaway goal after just three minutes.
Mark Hurst saw a meaty drive blocked by a defender after Richard Denby's quickly-taken free kick, then Nick Stanborough and Hurst both had shots blocked after Borough keeper Darren Steadman had failed to clear a Denby corner.
Borough were rocking and with nine minutes gone they were reeling as Rovers took the lead, Graeme Rigg's corner clearing Stuart Evan's near-post challenge but falling perfectly for Martin Devaney to fire into the top of the net from six yards out.
Rovers were in total control but Borough, aware of the enormity of the occasion, battled back and after 20 minutes grabbed a stunning equaliser, Mark Rosegreen driving in an unstoppable shot from the edge of the penalty area after Jason Percival had laid off Alan Byrne's cross.
Two minutes later Ian Cottrill's towering cross had Bob Aston in trouble but Nick Stanborough managed to force Percival's shot wide.
But there was a let-off 10 minutes later when Aston fumbled John Symond's cross, Percival diverting Richard Wardle's punt across the line despite the efforts of Evans and Nick Stanborough to clear.
The prognosis looked grim for Rovers but within a minute Hurst fired in at the near post after Holmes superbly teed up Rigg's cross to put the scores level.
Holmes was close to restoring Rovers' lead with a snap straight from Aston's kick but Nuneaton were not done yet and it took a tremendous piece of defending from Dave Swainston to deny Wade a goal, the defender racing back to save the day after Denby's misplaced pass - a rarity indeed - had given the winger a clear run at goal.
Ku Akeredolu was just off target with a first time shot from Symonds' cross then, with the first shot of the second half, Percival forced Aston into a redeemingly excellent save on the line with a shot after Richard Wardle had allowed the ball to run into his path.
That was Nuneaton's last chance of salvation, for Holmes suddenly struck to put Rovers in control, the striker finding ample space to bring down Rigg's corner and fire in a fearsome right-foot volley from 15 yards with just three minutes of the second half gone.
And seven minutes later Holmes struck again, forcing the ball home after Steadman had failed to gather Devaney's superbly delivered cross from the left.
Holmes was twice close to completing a deserved hat trick but it was the limping Hurst who finally finished Borough off, forcing the ball over the line after yet another Rigg corner, Devaney's deflected shot and Stanborough's lay-off.
Rovers sat back after that and Percival, after seeing a 16-yard shot rebound off the bar, claimed a consolation for Borough with a header over Aston after Stanborough and Martin Dick had both failed to clear Steadman's long kick.
Gresley Rovers (2) 5
Nuneaton Borough (2) 3
Scorers: Devaney 9, Hurst 33, 67, Holmes 48, 55 (Gresley Rovers); Rosegreen 20, Percival 32, 87 (Nuneaton Borough).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Dick Swainston, Denby Evans, Stanborough, Wardle, Rigg, Hurst (Moore 67), Holmes, Devaney. Sub not used: Elliott.
Nuneaton Borough: Steadman, Byrne (Wright 75), Symonds, Whetton, Rodwell, Cottrill, Wade, Percival, Akeredolu, Rosegreen, Carmichael. Sub not used: Lovelock.
Gresley man-of-the-match: David Holmes.
Referee: E Soloman (Cannock).
Attendance: 946
