Gresley Rovers vs Lye Town
Tommy guns down Lye – Mike StJohn – Burton Mail
A well taken goal by Tommy Thompson midway through the second half crushed Lye Town’s 100% record in the Banks’s Brewery West Midlands League and extended their own impressive start to three wins out of three at the Moat Ground last night.
The Moatmen’s first home league appearance of the season in front of a large Bank Holiday crowd, brimmed with character and dogged determination, and if the game lacked that added bit of sparkle it was only because two reluctant teams were engaged in a tight battle.
Lye’s Walker could have made a great impression on the game when he was presented with two goal-scoring chances in the space of 11 minutes.
Moments after Gresley’s Clive Arthur planted a speculative overhead kick onto the roof of the net from the edge of the penalty area Walker was given his chance.
As the Gresley midfield and back four were caught napping a slick move involving Gary Bastable and Dean Seymour nearly ended in a goal, but Walker volleyed powerfully just wide of a diving McNamara’s left post.
In the closing minutes of the first half Walker nearly made Gresley pay the price for a lapse in concentration, but yet again the site of the goal proved too much and his shot passed wide of the mark.
Gresley looked far sharper after the interval and the introduction of Brian Beresford for substituted Dave Butler gave the Rovers’ forward line a more formidable appearance.
Clive Arthur’s enthusiasm momentarily got the better of him when he was harshly booked for a challenge on Crannage in the 49th minute.
Walker was nearly on the mark again, but the luck was still on Gresley’s side when the winger headed Steve Cooper’s free kick just wide.
Gresley’s persistence finally rewarded them when midfield man Thompson struck the only goal of the match in the 67th minute.
Thompson linked up brilliantly with Beresford, whose neat touch sent him running into the penalty area.
Thompson nipped in on the blind side to chip the ball passed a bemused Crannage and put Gresley into the lead.
McNamara, so often called upon to make an important save late in a game, was on hand to perform heroics again, throwing his frame at a fierce Bastable effort.
But Gresley so nearly went 2 – 0 ahead when firstly Crannage excelled himself to block Gee’s drive through a packed penalty area and Beresford looked to have scored in another Gresley attack when he struck the left upright.
Gresley Rovers (0) 1
Lye Town (0) 0
Scorer: Thompson 67.
