Match Report  |  Rocester vs Gresley FC

Rocester took the bragging rights as they beat local rivals Gresley 2-0 at Hillsfield with goals from Chris Sterling and Jack Langston.

In front of a crowd of 220 and on a superb surface Rocester soon showed their intent by heading wide in the first few seconds and Gresley failed to heed the warning as they found themselves a goal down on 2 minutes when the unmarked Chris Sterling headed a cross in at the far post.

The visitors slowly got back into the game and should have had a chance to level things on 11 minutes when Tom Betteridge burst through into the area only to be clearly fouled on his way but amazingly referee Mr Lawton waved away the protests, unfortunately not his only controversial decision of the game.

Rocester were still looking dangerous going forward and it took a last ditch superbly timed tackle in the area from Jamie Barrett to deny Craig Holland from increasing his side's lead.

Another chance fell to Holland seconds when later Rob Perk's long through ball caught the Gresley back line out and Holland controlled the ball well bit the finish was disappointing as he flashed his shot wide of the far post with only Gresley keeper Gary Hateley to beat.

Although Gresley put the Romans under pressure they once again failed to find the killer touch trying to pass their way into the goal rather than testing the home keeper Richard Frogatt with a shot. However, on 24 minutes they did have a shot but Lee Barrow's well hit effort was blocked.

Almost immediately Rocester broke away quickly down the flank and Hateley did well to keep his side in the game when he expertly tipped over Paul McMahon's powerful header from the cross.

Frogatt demonstrated his acrobatic skill by duplicating his opposite number's effort by tipping Marc Goodfellow's powerfully hit 30 yard volley over the bar.

Despite having much of the possession Gresley's nice flowing football was breaking down due to inerrant passes in the build up allowing Rocester to once again fly forward putting the visiting defence under pressure

Gresley were dealt a blow on 52 minutes when Goodfellow, who was having an increasing influence on the game, suffered a tweaked hamstring to be replaced by Aaron Dillon.

A few minutes later Hateley pulled out a good save to deny Holland and then McMahon had a golden chance when Mensah Kinch fed the ball through but he conspired to miss the target when well placed.

On 73 minutes Royce Turville, who had ploughed a lonely furrow up front until the introduction of Jermaine Gordon, headed Tom Betteridge's cross from the left over the bar and then Carl Slater blazed over after Turville had laid the ball back into his path.

Seconds later came a bizarre decision from the match officials Gordon, who had replaced Mickey Lyons, burst into the area and was tripped by the outstretched leg of a defender. The keeper collected the loose ball and the referee was content to let play continue waving away the Gresley appeals for a penalty. However, Mr Lawton's attention was brought to the waving flag of his assistant and it was assumed that he had seen the offence and was indicating a spot kick. Nothing of the sort, apparently and after a discussion with his assistant the referee adjudged that Frogatt had collected a back pass and he gave an indirect free kick a couple of yards into the area much to the amazement of supporters and players alike.

From the blocked effort by Barrow the ball eventually came to substitute Richard Hanslow who belted a cracking shot that was deflected over the bar by Chris Comsky.

The game was finished for Gresley on the stroke of fulltime when Langston hit one of the best goals that will be seen at Hillsfield this season or on many other grounds to be honest hitting a viciously dipping volley over the head of the helpless Hateley and into the top far corner of the net to give Rocester their first win over a Gresley side since August 2001 and a deserved one at that.