Stamford vs Gresley Rovers
Rovers through
On a night when football was put into perspective, Alan Titterton and Andy
Mason were again in charge of Gresley.
Owing to a family bereavement, John McGinlay had returned to Scotland with
his family and so it was left to his two trusted deputies to take the reigns
against Stamford for the second round of the Dr Martens League Cup.
Alan and Andy had to cope with a number of first team absences; Stuart Evans
through injury, Lee Westwood with the flu, Jake Fairbrother suspended, Ryan
Ford ineligible and McGinlay for family reasons.
John Allcock was back in the side after a lengthy period out through injury
and the recent loan signing Sean Cleary was also included.
Gresley began the game at a pace and forced the home keeper Steve Corry into
an early save from Chris Gray's shot on three minutes after some good inter-play
involving six players.
The early pressure continued from Gresley and saw Chris Parkins and Mark Peters
both go close.
On 18 minutes the home side had their first attempt on goal when Carl Holmes
shot straight at James Lindley. This seemed to prompt the home side into applying
more pressure but Allcock was in commanding form and headed a clearance from
Malcolm Ndekwe.
Holmes should have put the home side ahead when he fired over with only Lindley
to beat.
On 41 minutes Gresley took the lead with a superb goal by Andy Bourne. Barry
Woolley, skipper for the evening, picked the ball up just inside his own half
danced around four tackles and laid the ball on for Bourne, who gave Corry no
chance as he crashed his shot into the top corner of the net.
It could have been even worse for the home side when Darren Clyde put the ball
out for a corner just as Bourne was about to strike his second goal.
The second half started with a Stamford charge and James Lindley had to be
alert to turn a powerful shot from Darren Staff round the post. From the resultant
corner by Warren Donald, Holmes was in space for a free header but his effort
was hopelessly off target.
Richard Wardle set off on a great run and then provided Peters with a chance
but the midfielder's first time shot was well saved by Corry who managed to
hang onto the ball.
Rovers' defence was well in control and easily snuffed out any threat from
Stamford.
On 77 minutes Stamford had a chance to level things when Lindley miskicked
Allcock's back pass but Ndekwe's shot sailed over the bar with an empty net
beckoning.
With only seconds remaining Staff 's attempt on goal was very well blocked
by Andy Cheetham and Gresley were through to the next round and their run of
one defeat in 17 outings extended.
Stamford (0) 0
Gresley Rovers (1) 1
Scorer: Bourne 41.
Stamford: Corry, Blowers, Peaks, Ashby, Clyde, Green, Donald, Bailey,
Ndekwe, Holmes (Hancock 84), Staff. Subs not used: Miller, Wayte.
Gresley Rovers: Lindley, Bluck (Middleton 88), Cheetham, Allcock, Woolley,
Wardle, Bourne, Cleary (Fletcher 86), Peters, Parkins, Gray (Moran 90).
Rovers
Star Man: John Allcock - In commanding form.
Referee: G Mage (Luton).
Attendance: 107
