Match Report  |  Cammell Laird vs Gresley Rovers

Gresley Rovers' disappointing season ended with another defeat this time at league runners-up Cammell Laird.

The defeat was made all the more unpalatable by Laird resting nine first team players ready for their crucial play-off game on Tuesday and yet putting out a side which included a 46-year-old goalkeeper up front that comfortably beat Rovers.

Rovers had chances in the first period to have taken a halftime lead but the second half saw Laird ease into a two-goal lead that did not look threatened at all.

Rovers manager Gary Norton had to name himself on the bench as midfielder Nick Hawkins disappointingly failed to show up.

The visitors should have taken an early lead when Chris Archer was put though on goal but after beating Lairds keeper Peter Crookes could only fire his shot wide of the far post.

Archer had his second chance within the first six minutes this time when a quickly taken free kick by Tom Groves sent Tony Hemmings down the left flank before sending over an inviting cross that the striker headed over when well placed.

Laird's first chance came on 10 minutes when John Couch sent over a cross for Chris Nezianya but the final shot went straight at Rovers' keeper Tom Allan.

Crookes then kept his side in the game with a breath taking save on 20 minutes. Archer made a good run down the left and his cross fell perfectly for Oli Olanipekun who smashed a shot that Crookes did well to turn away.

Lairds went close on 31 minutes when John Strange's corner was unfortunately flicked on by Rovers defender Russell Courtney. The ball looked to be heading for the far corner of the net but it thankfully went the other side of the post where Nezianya almost got the killer touch.

In time added on Courtney almost repeated the act but this time at the other end of the pitch flicking on Tom Groves' corner just wide of the far post.

Rovers seemed to fade for the second period and the home side had a couple of fairly decent chances. Substitute Anthony Powell was picked out by Alan Bull in the area but his shot was deflected for a corner. His second chance came minutes later when he was allowed a free header from close in that he somehow managed to put wide.

Laird took the lead on 58 minutes. Substitute Ronnie Morgan put a slide rule pass through to Tony McMullen, who played the ball through to Anthony Sheehan who calmly lobbed Tom Allen and into the far corner.

The home side almost doubled their lead when Bull hit a vicious shot that clattered a post before going out for a goal kick.
Laird's second goal on 83 minutes was a bit harsh. Rovers' right back Dan Douglas was penalised for what the referee though was the tugging of Morgan's shirt when it was a matter of six of one and half a dozen of the other.

Morgan chose to take the spot kick himself sending Allan the wrong way.