Leyton-Wingate vs Gresley Rovers
Down – Rex Page – Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers were rudely awakened, as their FA Cup dream became a nightmare at Wingate Stadium on Saturday.
Rovers travelled to East London in a buoyant mood after stringing together a ten-match unbeaten run, but by half time their hope of reaching the first round proper for the first time in more than half a century were in ruins.
The Vauxhall Opel League side took a vice-like grip on the game from the first whistle and never released it until victory was assured.
Frankly, Gresley’s challenge failed to materialise. On the day too many of their players seemed unable to cope with the occasion for them to match a side bulging with individual talent.
Rovers were swept aside in midfield and lacked the resilience to resist mountainous first half pressure.
Leyton keeper Craig Turner barely had a save to make before the interval and only some wayward finishing by the Londoners allowed Gresley to escape lightly as 2–0.
Rovers found themselves back-pedalling from the start and it was surprising that they survived unscathed in a whirlwind burst of early pressure from the Londoners.
They finally yielded in the 15th minute when Elijah Bee’s cross was powerfully headed past Martin McNamara by Mick Heselden from six yards.
With Brian Attley sadly out of touch and Steve Dolby battling forlornly to try and contain the rampant Heselden, Gresley found themselves under siege.
It could have been all over long before the interval, but the classy Delroy Rhoden
squandered two gilt-edged chances and Heselden and the impressive Steve Hamberger were also wide of the mark when it seemed distinctly easier to score.
In the event, Leyton need not have feared that their finishing would prove expensively inadequate.
For in the 41st minute came the goal that finally deflated the large Gresley contingent which swelled the otherwise pitifully small crowd, Rhoden demonstrating his silky skills with a spectacular volley from eight yards.
Gresley must have been relieved to hear the half time whistle, as it gave them their first opportunity to regain their composure.
To their credit, they did not make too bad a job of it after the interval. There was never more than the merest hint, however, that they would be able to stage a dramatic recovery.
Rovers worked hard, but they lacked the creativity to unlock a defence in which Hamberger was outstanding.
It was not until the 50th minute that Gresley reminded Tucker that his duties extended to more that that of spectator, Nigel Steele producing a wickedly swerving cross from the right which the Leyton keeper was forced to finger-tip over the bar for a corner.
Always, though, Leyton looked capable of stretching their lead and only a fine piece of goalkeeping by McNamara denied Rhoden of his second goal of the afternoon.
In the final half hour Rovers only twice threatened to bring the game to the boil. A brilliant turn by Clive Arthur gave the winger a rare glimpse of a goal but his powerful right foot shot was well covered by Tucker.
And in a late flurry of pressure Gresley brought momentary panic to the Leyton defence and in a chaotic goalmouth melee there was a suspicion – not confirmed by the referee –that Andy Mavin may have handled.
In the end, alas, it was not so much a case of Rovers fighting back but regaining some of the self-respect they had discarded during that miserable first 45 minutes.
Leyton-Wingate (2) 2
Gresley Rovers (0) 0
Scorers: Heselden 15, Rhoden 41.
Leyton-Wingate: Tucker, James, Wood, Mavin, Hamberger, O’Hehir, Lane, Bee, Heselden, Rhoden, Baxter. Sub: Tuohy.
Gresley Rovers: McNamara, Earley, Attley, Thompson, Dolby, Bromley, Arthur, Laws, Butler, Beresford, Steele (Dearn 63).
Referee: B Bellamy (Cardington, Beds.)
Attendance: 294
