Bilston Town vs Gresley Rovers
Gresley at the double
"I'm very relieved," remarked Gresley Rovers manager John McGinlay
after seeing his side win at Bilston Town.
Gresley were back to the 'bread and butter' of Dr Martens Western Division
after the heady heights of the FA Umbro Trophy games against Southport.
They dug deep into their resources and won three deserved points in a match
that failed to spark.
The league double over 'the Steelmen' came at a price with captain Stuart Evans
sustaining an eye injury and defender Andy Cheetham a twisted ankle.
Gresley got off to a good start and on 8 minutes took the lead.
Barry Woolley was put clear on goal by a Chris Parkins' pass but his shot was
blocked by the keeper, Simon Bryan's legs. The rebound fell kindly for Michael
Moore who did well to score from a very tight angle.
On 12 minutes, however, Bilston came close to an equaliser when Ian Bluck cleared
an in-swinging corner by Steve Ball off the line.
Gresley should have doubled their lead on 20 minutes when Sean Cleary's pass
found Woolley who then picked out Parkins in acres of space but with only the
keeper to beat he slammed his shot into the side netting.
On 23 minutes Gresley were almost made to pay for a defensive lapse. Gresley
keeper James Lindley received a back pass from Cheetham and immediately returned
to the defender.
But to Lindley's horror Cheetham lost possession and Ball crossed into the
box, but Ryan Daley could only head straight the keeper's arms.
Again the visitors came close, when, after collecting a short corner from Parkins,
Chris Gray brushed the top of the Bilston bar.
At half time, McGinlay brought Evans off due to the skipper suffering from
blurred vision, replacing him with Andy Bourne.
On loan defender Sean Cleary saved Gresley with a superbly timed tackle on
Charlie Bullimore as he was through on goal.
After the danger had been snuffed out, McGinlay switched to 4-4-2 with Richard
Wardle slotting into the right back slot.
Woolley could have got on the score sheet on 65 minutes but his header went
straight to Bryan.
On 70 minutes Mark Peters almost embarrassed the home keeper when he noticed
Bryan had strayed off his line. As he collected a loose ball he sent a speculative
chip towards the goal that landed on the roof of the net.
Woolley was called back into defence as Cheetham sustained an ankle injury
and McGinlay replaced Cheetham with striker Chris White.
And White was soon in action as he disposed Greg Walters but unfortunately
placed his shot just wide of the upright.
It was deep into overtime when the points were made secure for Gresley. Parkins
collected the ball from the halfway line and raced through the Bilston half
with no defenders near him, rounded the keeper and slotted the ball home for
his 11th league goal of this campaign.
The manager's view of the match
"To be honest I'm very relieved. I think that was a tremendous result
when you think what the players have been through in the last week.
"It was the result that mattered today not the performance. Before the
game, if I had offered this result I would have taken it.
"This result keeps us in the top half of the table. These three points
were vital.
"We had to make a few changes, before and during the game and the players
had to fill in which disrupted us a bit."
Bilston Town (0) 0
Gresley Rovers (1) 2
Scorers: Moore 9, Parkins 90.
Bilston Town: Bryan, Bytheway, Read, Humphries, Townsend, Stone (Walters
52), Ball, daley, Bullimore (Lee 65), Blakemore, Coates (Thompson 83).
Gresley Rovers: Lindley, Bluck, Cheetham (White 76), Peters, Cleary
7, Evans (Bourne 45), Wardle, Moore (Westwood 87), Woolley, Parkins, Gray.
Rovers
Star Man: Sean Cleary - Didn't let much past him.
Referee: S Flanaghan (Wednesfield).
Attendance: 237
