UniBond League Division One
Horsfall Stadium, Bradford
Monday, 2nd October 2006, 7.45pm
O'Connor hits two to stun Avenue
Gresley Rovers left the Horsfall Stadium last night very thankful for the skill of striker Aaron O'Connor, keeper Tommy Whittle and some wasteful finishing from the Avenue side that are riding high in the league.
The Moatmen's squad were down to bare bones due to injury and unavailability with manager Gary Norton having to name himself as one of the substitutes as they looked to try and contain the home side looking to go top if they managed to get at least a point.
Right back Dan Douglas was back in the side after serving his five week suspension picked up playing for Loughborough Dynamo last season and on the bench was Paolo Piliero, on loan from Alfreton Town. Martyn Rowntree made his first appearance slotting in at left back in place of the injured Gary White.
Gresley had an early chance on 3 minutes when Ravi Sangha got down the left but his cross was just inches in front of O'Connor who couldn't connect with the ball.
But from then on Gresley had to batten down the hatches has they were subjected to wave after wave of attacking play from the home side.
On 10 minutes Whittle pulled of one of his numerous superb saves when he pushed a shot from Neil Ross round the post
The Gresley keeper was again the saviour of his side six minutes later when somehow he managed to get a touch on Ross's shot that looked a certain goal as it headed for the far corner.
The pressure from the home side finally told on 22 minutes. Neil Redfearn, the former Barnsley midfielder, took a quick free kick that caught the visitors off guard. He sent David Cooke scurrying down the right and the resultant low cross was only partially cleared by Matt Millns. The ball fell to Ross who controlled it expertly before smashing the ball past Whittle.
Would the floodgates open as they did on Saturday? No, in this game Gresley dug deep and did not allow the goal to dishearten them.
On 28 minutes Avenue almost double their lead when a long ball allowed Lee Morris to get behind the Gresley defence but Whittle produced a fine block and Millns cleared the danger by hooking the ball off the line. The ball was slung back into the box where Redfearn was waiting to hammer a shot that Whittle did well to hold down to his left.
Eight minutes later, and somewhat against the run of play, Gresley got back on terms with their first shot on target.
A long ball sent Sangha on his way down the right. Avenue's Neil Grayston made a tackle but the ball fell nicely for O'Connor who ran into the box before thumping his shot high into the roof of the net, beating home keeper Piotr Skiba at his near post.
On the hour the woodwork denied Redfearn who fired in his free kick only for the ball to come back off the bar with Whittle beaten.
Gresley looked to be getting on top during the later stages of the second half and could have taken the lead on 77 minutes when Skiba fumbled Millns' long throw into the box and with the ball bouncing around Jamie Barrett just could not get the touch needed to push it into the net.
Despite dominating the first half Avenue had been restricted to just a few chances in the second one of which came with nine minutes remaining. Flynn set off down the left and played the ball to Ross whose on target shot was deflected by Andy Simpson.
The game could have taken a different direction when on 84 minutes Avenue had a decent penalty shout waved away by the referee. But while the home side were still arguing with the official Gresley broke out of defence. Substitute Ady Francis ran down the right flank and played the ball square to O'Connor. Lee Connor looked to have cut out the danger but allowed the ball to get to O'Connor who ran into the box, turned his marker before beating Skiba at the near post stunning the home supporters.
With the home side pushing forward looking for at least the point they desperately needed they almost allowed O'Connor to grab his hat trick a minute later. The striker beat the offside trap but Skiba managed to get a touch and pushed the ball away for a corner.
Seconds later Connor almost headed into his own net but the ball bounced onto the bar after trying to clear a long throw from Millns as the home side were clearly rattled by what proved to be the winning goal.
