Gresley Rovers vs Chasetown
Chasetown came to the Moat Ground on the 14th September 1996 for a 1st Qualifying Round FA Cup game, the only time we have met them in the FA Cup.
The line-ups were:
Rovers: Ford, R Wardel, Horseman, Turner, Blount, Evans, Castledine, Allsop, Marsden, Garner, Fowkes. Subs: Guyett, Hurst (used), Owen.
Chasetown: Birt, Nicholls, Jones, Clegg, Jarvis, Bird, Gregory, Haddaway, Dixon, Goldsmith, Neuchterlain. Subs: Lloyd, Brown (used), Smith (used).
Paul Futcher's team started shakily, failed to build on the platform of an excellent opening goal and ended up missing enough chances to have settled the tie in the first half.
The visitors could have had a sixth minute lead when Gregory held off Evans before supplying a right wing cross which Blount hurriedly cleared from the six yard box.
It took 13 minutes for Rovers to mount a decent attack with Fowkes and Garner linking neatly in the box before Fowkes got over a teasing cross that just eluded Tony Marsden.
On 21 minutes Rovers went ahead. Neat work by Castledine saw him beat three defenders before setting up Allsopp for a stylish finish in the far corner.
Six minutes later Chasetown became the first side to score at the Moat Ground that season when Bird's deep cross picked out Goldsmith who out jumped keeper Stuart Ford to head home from eight yards.
Most of the visitors' pressure came via Gregory who picked up a Jones free kick before seeing an attempted cross headed clear by Evans.
Rovers missed a golden chance to regain the lead on 35 minutes following a free kick when Garner's header went narrowly wide. Two minutes before the break Rovers edged back in front, Horseman's free kick was headed on by Blount for Allsopp to ram home a shot at the far post.
Chasetown were reduced to ten men on 77 minutes when Nicholls was ordered off following a two footed challenge on Hurst. The visitors had a late chance to level but Ford was well placed to save from Gregory.
Two minutes later Hurst amost notched another for Rovers but Birt pulled off a brilliant save.
Gresley Rovers 2 - 1 Chasetown
Attendance: 506
