Match Report  |  Brigg Town vs Gresley Rovers

Gresley Rovers had victory snatched from them in the final seconds of this FA Carlsberg Trophy game.

David Blenkinsopp created the first chance for the visitors on 17 minutes when he left his marker for dead before playing the ball back to Carl Slater. The midfielder cracked a shot that took a deflection and away for a corner.

Shaun Ridgway's flag kick found the head of Paul Edwards but the ball just cleared the bar.

Brigg hit back when John Borland picked out Tommy Spall down the wing. The resultant cross was headed fractionally over by Jason Maxwell.

On 23 minutes Jamie Hood had a chance when Ridgaway's corner landed at his feet but his shot went well over.

Craig Hanson, making his first start of the season, tested the home keeper Damien Steer with a fine shot that was well blocked.

Brigg almost took the lead when a cross from Michael Jacklin picked out Maxwell in acres of space just yards out, the header although not the most powerful was not clooected by Rovers keeper David Clarke who allowed it to drop over the line for a corner.

They went even closer on 39 minutes. Grimes collected a throw-in on the edge of the Rovers area and smashed in a shot that Clarke had to punch away.

Rovers took the lead immediately after the break. Carl Slater stole the ball straight from the kick off on the edge of his own box. He found Hanson on the halfway line who in turn put a terrific ball through to Blenkinsopp down the right.

After easily beating a defender the prolific striker drilled in a low shot under Steer and into the far corner.

Rovers could have doubled their advantage four minutes later when Hanson again picked out Blenkinsopp who in turn sent Morgan Hurley on his way down the right. Hurley's cross found Edwards but his header just cleared the bar.

Brigg were close to getting back on terms when Clarke failed to hold Daniel Barrett's long-range shot, but Maxwell quickly on to the loose ball could only fire the rebound over.

On 60 minutes Rovers almost gifted their hosts a goal when Hood let the ball run to the bye-line for a goalkick.

However, the quick thinking Paul Grimes didn't give up on the ball and managed to keep it in play. He then picked out Martin Altoft, whose shot was superbly turned away by Clarke.

Rovers increased their lead just three minutes later. Ridgway's corner was not fully cleared and Hurley picked up the ball and sent it back into the danger area where Blenkinsopp sold his marker a superb dummy allowing the ball through to Hood who hammered in a low shot past Steer and into the far corner.

With the visitors on top Edwards almost scored moments later firing Hanson's pass fractionally wide.

What happened next seemed to take Rovers out of their stride as they looked to be certain to add to their lead.

On 70 minutes one of the assistant referees looked to have succumbed to a leg injury and a substitute was requested. After 12 minutes or so a replacement was found but Rovers didn't deem to settle into the same rhythm although the home side had keeper Steer to thank for keeping their side in the game when he denied Blenkinsopp his second acrobatically tipping the shot away.

With Rovers looking certain to go through to the next round Brigg grabbed a goal in somewhat debatable circumstances in injury time.

A high ball into the Rovers box saw keeper Clarke come to try and claim the ball. In doing so he dropped it he collided with Paul Grimes who had turned his back and made no attempt to get the ball.

The referee Mr Sullivan pointed to the spot harshly claiming Clarke had fouled the winger and ignored the Rovers protestations.

Grimes took the kick himself slotting the ball into the bottom corner..

It still looked odds on that Rovers would clinch their first away win of the season but there was more drama to come.

Rovers were still seething from penalty award and seemed to switch off allowing Lee Cochrane to fire home Maxwell's pass from close range past Clarke giving Brigg the chance to fight again and Rovers to wonder how they'd let a sure fired victory slip from their grasp.