Tividale vs Gresley Rovers
Spot on, Martin – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Conditions were bleak and the tackling bruising but Gresley’s football was full of thrills and skills as they outplayed Tividale.
Rovers’ Brian Beresford grabbed two super goals and came close to a third, as the visitors appeared to be strolling.
But late complacency from Gresley, a ‘Dale rally through the muscle sapping mud and a catalogue of bizarre refereeing decisions all made up for a knife edge finale.
Keeper Martin McNamara seemed to have incredibly let Tividale off the hook when he conceded a last kick-of-the-game penalty just a minute after his blunder had gifted the home side a second goal.
But it was home full back Tommy Crook who emerged as villain and McNamara as the hero as the keeper leapt brilliantly to push aside the spot kick.
That Rovers came so close to surrendering a Banks’s West Midlands League point seemed ridiculous: their dominance had increased steadily throughout the first three quarters of a gritty game.
Gresley didn’t make the best of starts, full back Mark Bromley hobbling out of the action with a knee injury, after only ten minutes to be replaced by Robert Philpot, a midfielder.
But Rovers rejigged and stunned the home side with a terrific goal in the 25th minute. ‘Dales defence contrived to give the Gresley marksman a sight of goal 30-odd yards out and Beresford curled a shot into the top left corner of the net.
But if Beresford thought he would steal the show he reckoned without referee Watson, who had already mad himself unpopular with both sets of supporters with some eccentric decisions.
The Coventry official noted the names of Clive Arthur and Brian Attley in controversial circumstances and there were more bemusement when debutant Moatman Glen West flattened ‘Dale winger Dean Megan in the box. It looked a good penalty but the referee awarded an indirect free kick, which the in-form Stuart Watkiss headed away for a corner.
The better football was all from Gresley by now with the impressive John Laws eagerly responding to the cultured promptings of Attley and Arthur and Reg Priest proving willing runners.
Minutes after the break the masterful West set Priest free on the left and Beresford clipped in a clinical five yard header from his measured cross.
Then Arthur benefited from Attley’s vision on the right with a run deep into the home penalty box. His well-timed centre was met by Beresford’s head, the ball pinged back off a post and Priest crashed home the rebound.
‘Dale had earlier pulled a goal back from the penalty spot –to the outrage of the Gresley faithful – and Mr Watson had aired his notebook again to the regret of Tividale’s Martin Bradbury and Gresley’s McNamara. Even the Gresley bench failed to escape his ire with trainer Keith Milner having his name noted.
Despite all this the points seemed safe until McNamara inexcusably allowed Bradbury’s speculative shot through his hands into the net in injury time.
Seconds later: Horror for Gresley. McNamara toppled Bradley, Mr Watson pointed to the spot and the home side’s frozen fans celebrated their luck.
They reckoned without McNamara though who dived to his right to redeem his earlier sins with a splendid save.
Tividale (0) 2
Gresley Rovers (1) 3
Scorers: Bradbury 90. ? pen ? (Tividale) : Beresford 25, 47, Priest ? (Gresley Rovers).
Tividale: Sivell, Crook, Clarke, Sparrock, Middleton, Meeson, Hill, Bradbury, Day, Beesley, Megan. Sub: Brooks.
Gresley Rovers: McNamara, Attley, Earley, West, Watkiss, Dolby, Arthur, Laws, Priest, Beresford, Bromley (Philpot 10).
Referee: A Watson (Coventry).
Attendance: 95
