Gresley Rovers vs Ilkeston Town
Rovers beat the Robins
If you didn't know any better you would have been forgiven if you thought the
two teams battling it out on the pitch were from the same league instead of
the 23 places that actually separate them.
Gresley Rovers of the Dr Martens Western Division were more than a match for
their more illustrious opponents Ilkeston Town of the Dr Martens Premier Division.
For much of the game they out played, out ran and outwitted a strong Robins
side.
Gresley started the brighter and on 51 seconds could easily have taken the
lead when Ian Bluck picked up the ball and smashed a shot which had Stuart Ford
beaten.
Ryan Ford tested his namesake a minute later, after Bourne had dispossessed
Greg Pearce, with a snap shot which the Robins keeper did well to turn round
the post.
Chris Parkins took the corner and Bluck was again unlucky to see his shot go
just wide.
Gresley continued to put the visitors under pressure and Parkins chested down
a Richard Wardle pass superbly but his touch just let him down and allowed Ford
to gather the ball.
On 12 minutes James Lindley, who up to then had not been called into action,
had to be alert when former Gresley player David Holmes fired in a fierce shot
which the keeper did well to tip over.
Tony Hemmings then ran at the Gresley defence going past Lee Westwood and through
the tackle of Stuart Evans only to put his shot wide of the post. Evans who
had made an attempted block tackle on Hemmings was hurt in the process and had
to be stretchered off on 19 minutes.
This meant a reshuffle at the back for Gresley. McGinlay put Fairbrother into
the centre half position and brought on Alex Green.
It was the substitute who almost helped to break the deadlock. Green put in
a superb deep cross to the waiting Ryan Ford whose resulting shot was just tipped
away for another corner by Stuart Ford.
Green, who has been side lined by a back injury, was extremely disappointed
when he suffered a calf injury and had to be substituted himself on the stroke
of half time.
Straight after the interval it was the home side that started the stronger
with both Andy Bourne and Parkins going close.
Ilkeston manager Chris Marples made the first of his substitutions on 61 minutes
when he brought on James Roe for striker Carl Wright.
On 65 minutes Gresley took the lead their performance deserved. Westwood collected
a very poor clearance, played an exquisite one - two with Bourne and then chipped
the ball over Ford and into the top corner of the net for his first competitive
goal for the club.
It could have been even worse for the visitors if Parkins' header from a Ryan
Ford corner hadn't gone over the bar.
On 76 minutes, Marples made his second substitution in an attempt to grab an
equaliser. He replaced Gareth Williams with striker Ian Helliwell and it almost
paid dividends.
Lindley was called on to make two vital saves in quick succession. The first
by punching clear a dangerous cross by Holmes and then by blocking Ian Robinson's
return shot with his legs.
On 83 minutes Ilkeston striker, Emeka Nwadike, perhaps missed the best Robins
chance when he put his header from a Hemmings cross over the bar when unmarked.
The play then swung to the other end and Gresley were unlucky not to have doubled
their lead on 84 minutes when Peters had a shot blocked after good work by Bourne.
Bourne could have had a goal himself seconds later but his effort was cleared
by Matt McKenzie.
In typical end to end cup tie fashion it was then Rovers' keeper turn to produce
a save when he cleared a Hemmings free kick and the rebound by Holmes.
At the other end Peters put through Bourne but Stuart Ford was quick off his
line to block the attempt.
Lindley was called on in the second minute of added time and expertly blocked
a Hemmings shot with his outstretched leg.
The referee then blew to end what had been an entertaining match and justice
was done and Gresley proudly moved into the second round of the Dr Martens League
Cup.
The manager's view of the game
"It was an absolutely great performance. We started brightly and for the first
20 minutes we took the game to them and really we should have scored in the
first five minutes.
"Ryan Ford had a good chance at the back post, Chris Parkins had half a chance
when he took the ball down off his chest and I think we did well.
"They came into it the last 20 minutes of the first half because we stood off
them and let them play but we coped with everything they threw at us in the
box. I thought tonight we defended magnificently well. Barry Woolley and Jake
Fairbrother when he was asked to go back did well and I thought Ian Bluck was
outstanding. I really thought he had a great game tonight.
"The midfield has worked really hard. The front two worked exceptionally hard,
they chased every ball and every lost cause. That's what you want when you're
winning throw-ins and corners.
"I told them that you only get out of a game what you put in. And I think they
deserved it tonight they've out worked the other team and they are a good side.
They are in the top eight in the Premier League; they are a decent side.
"And they didn't come here tonight with a weakened side. They put out a full
side, which I think is a credit to our boys to get that sort of respect, which
we deserve as much as they deserve. I thought that was good as well.
"So it's a proper victory. It wouldn't have looked that way if they had put
out their reserve team.
"I was proud of them tonight. I was chuffed with them. The only down side is
the injury to Stuart Evans. It's a big, big blow to us to lose your skipper
so early in the game. Jake went back in defence and taking Jake out of midfield
leaves a big hole that Richard Wardle filled for us. Lee Westwood answered the
call and got the goal.
"But when things like that happens it gives others a chance and everyone has
done well tonight. We have Chris Gray to come back in the squad along with Matt
Moran and myself so although we are weakened a bit selection wise we still have
people to come in.
"Carl Middleton is back from his loan spell at Congleton Town. Unfortunately
their manger was relieved of his duties after Saturday's game and the arrangement
was with Sean O'Connor as a favour to him so we've called him back.
"Stuart's injury is to his ankle. He turned it as well as receiving a knock
from their player. It swelled up quite quickly and we're hoping the damage is
not as bad as we think it is.
"Alex Green's injury was to his calf and thankfully not his back and it's not
going to be as bad as his back problem was. But apart from them two we have
only got a few knocks and bruises. Ryan got a knock in the face and his eye
bruised and puffed up a bit he should be all right.
"It's surprising how quick you get over injuries when you're winning. You get
over them really quick when things are going well. When thing are not going
so well they linger for a week or two."
Gresley Rovers (0) 1
Ilkeston Town (0) 0
Scorer: Westwood 65.
Gresley Rovers: Lindley, Bluck, Cheetham, Westwood, Woolley, Evans (Green
19, (Peters 45)), Bourne, Fairbrother, R Ford, Parkins, Wardle. Sub not used:
Fletcher.
Ilkeston Town: S Ford, Whitehead, Curtis, Pearce, McKenzie, Robinson,
Holmes, Hemmings, Willians (Helliwell 76), Wright (Roe 61), Nwadike. Sub not
used: Abbott.
Rovers
Star Man: Andy Bourne - Worked hard, never stopped running.
Referee: P Caswell (Leicester).
Attendance: 295
