Bromsgrove Rovers vs Gresley Rovers
Wizard of Ossie – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
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Simon Osborne chose a magnificent moment to score his first goal for Gresley Rovers at Bromsgrove on Saturday.
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After six blank sheets the striker was a long time coming – but it proved worth the wait as Osborne set up a money-spinning Moat Ground FA Cup first qualifying round replay for tomorrow night.
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Moat boss Steve Dolby purred: “It was an excellent move and a great finish from Simon,” while defender Stuart Evans said: “Ossie’s been working hard for his first goal all season and for it to come in a game like this is tremendous for him.”
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Now Evans believes his team can finish the job tomorrow, insisting: “They looked dangerous from free kicks but other than that they didn’t do a lot and I didn’t think they were much better than us. We’re disappointed at the goal we gave a way especially as it was right after we scored. I went to bang it clear and it’s hit Scott Elliott in the chest and gone in.
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“But we’re all looking forward to the replay now with our crowd behind us I’m sure we can win it.”
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The prospect of a replay had seemed unlikely in the opening stages as Bromsgrove laid siege to Rovers through a string of corners and free kicks, Stewart Brighton almost surprising Bob Aston in the first minute with a 30-yard shot that the keeper touched onto the bar. Then winger Chris Peace beat Aston to Paul Webb’s through ball but shot wide.
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Gradually Rovers built up their own attacking momentum and keeper Scott Cooskey had to produce an athletic dive to get his fingertips to a 35-yard howitzer of a free kick from Gil Land.
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Then, after Paul Carty’s cross and Mark Crisp’s header had given Chris Hanks a clear shooting chance that the striker put straight at Aston, Rovers broke to the other end of the field where Richard Denby’s pass peeled open the Bromsgrove defence and Osborne pulled the ball wide of the keeper before applying a precise finish.
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Rovers might have been looking to the second qualifying round had they managed to hold onto their lead for more than three minutes but Carty’s umpteenth cross finally breached their defence. Aston did well to save Crisp’s header but the ball pinged in off the unfortunate Elliott.
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Crisp should have scored with a point blank header from another Carty cross but the effort flew over, leaving Rovers instead with the prospect of playing the second half with Bromsgrove’s appreciably sloping pitch in their favour.
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Bromsgrove continued to make the worst of the chances after the break with Crisp heading another opening wide and Aston saving bravely at Pearce’s feet then producing another great stop to deny Carty at the foot of a post.
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Rob Shilvock was millimetres short of converting Webb’s flick but Rovers’ conviction that they could secure a result was growing by the minute.
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With 10 minutes to go, though, disaster loomed. Bromsgrove skipper Kevin Richardson’s use of an elbow on Mark Hurst went unpunished and instead Webb threaded a pass through to Pearce who seemed certain to score until Aston felled him just outside the area.
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Referee Black, to the surprise of most and the outrage of many, produced only a yellow card, enabling Aston to continue his excellent work right up to the final minute when he produced another r superb smothering save to deny Crisp a barely deserved winner.
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Bromsgrove Rovers (1) 1
Gresley Rovers (1) 1
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Scorers: Elliott 28 (og) (Bromsgrove Rovers); Osborne 25 (Gresley Rovers).
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Bromsgrove Rovers: Cooksey, Skelding, Brighton, Richardson, O’Meara, Shilvock, Carty, Webb, Hanks, Crisp, Pearce. Subs not used: Radburn, P Wardle, Powell.
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Gresley Rovers: Aston, Dick, Swainston, Denby, Evans, Land, R Wardle, Marsden (Moore 76), Osborne (Stanborough 89), Elliott, Hurst.
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Gresley man-of-the-match: Bob Aston.
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Referee: A Black (Nuneaton).
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Attendance: 902
