Oldswinford vs Gresley Rovers
Play it again – Mike St John – Burton Mail
A few more question marks hang over a punchless Gresley Rovers following their tedious FA Cup first qualifying round deadlock with fellow Banks’s Brewery West Midlands League side Oldswinsford.
Arguably Gresley’s poorest display of the season was also rather baffling. Rovers rarely found their stride against indifferent opposition and their finishing – especially in the early stages – was ominously wayward.
Probably the kindest thing to happen to all concerned in the course of a breezy Brierley Hill afternoon was the announcement in the official match programme that stated that in the event of a draw no extra time would be played.
As it turned out Gresley host a potentially lucrative replay at the Moat Ground tomorrow night (7.45pm).
The Moatmen were apparently still shaking off the 3–0 defeat at home to slick Harrison’s midweek.
Yet on that occasion Gresley were beaten by a polished outfit, whereas on Saturday they were held by ordinary opposition who should have been dead and buried by half time.
Chances fell to Ian Staley who in the first minute received a fine Tommy Thompson through ball and planted an effort wide via Paul Whitehead’s boot, and Stuart Watkiss who fired the resultant corner over the bar.
But Oldswinsford snatched a 35th minute lead when a long shunt forward found Clinton Bennett unmarked.
Bennett saw Martin McNamara move off his line to narrow the angle down but he nonchalantly chipped the keeper to give his side a 1–0 lead.
Almost immediately Clive Arthur nearly equalised when he smacked an effort against the bar.
On the stroke of half time a cross from Dixie Dearn on the right was headed down at the far post by Dave Butler and Brian Beresford headed the return against the right post.
Gresley’s equaliser came in the 70th minute straight after Early came on as substitute for Staley.
Beresford turned well on the 18-yard line following a free kick inside the Rovers’ half and unleashed a powerful left footed effort past a helpless Clarke.
Eight minutes later Gresley took the lead when Whitehead was adjudged to have handled inside his own area leaving Arthur to make no mistake from the penalty spot.
Gresley’s lead was short lived, however, for within two minutes Oldswinsford had got back on level terms.
It took another penalty, although there was a great element of doubt about the validity of the decision.
Oldswinsford (1) 2
Gresley Rovers (0) 2
Scorers: Beresford 70, Arthur 78(pen)(Gresley Rovers): Bennett 35, Hickman (pen)(Oldswinsford).
Oldswinsford: Clarke, Growcott, Kettle, Norwood, Whitehead, Hickman, Hanson, Bennett, Millichip, Langford, Taylor. Sub: Giles.
Gresley Rovers: McNamara, Arthur, Bromley, Pegg, Watkiss, Thompson, Dearn, Davies, Butler, Beresford, Staley (Earley 70).
Referee: R King (Worcester).
