Gresley Rovers vs Wolverhampton United
Steve keeps Moatmen on course – Rex Page – Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers picked their way through a Moat Ground minefield to resuscitate their West Midlands League title challenge just when it seemed it was about to die on its feet.
Already hampered by a gale-force wind, and reduced to ten men by morale-sapping dismissal of skipper Dave King in the 46th minute, Rovers dragged themselves off the floor to snatch a brilliant winner 11 minutes from time.
Gresley were not so much battling for victory as attempting to keep the hungry Wolves at bay when Steve Dolby, one of the pillars around which Rovers have built a scrooge-like defence, delivered a telling blow.
He timed his run into the area perfectly and met Clive Arthur’s beautifully-flighted fee kick to score with a breathtaking header.
The goal means that Gresley go into their tantalising Easter double at home to Halesowen and Atherstone with their title dream still flickering rather than having it doused by a side from the depths of the league.
Wolverhampton, the side which gave Rovers’ manager Frank Northwood his first opportunity to make his mark in the West Midlands League had combined stubborn defence with an eye on a swift counter attack to match Gresley in a first half spoiled only by the blustery conditions and some finicky refereeing.
Gresley might have taken the lead after only four minutes, but Paul Guest was perfectly positioned to scramble Brian Beresford’s close-range shot off the line.
Later in the half John Laws twice went agonisingly close to making the vital breakthrough, but United looked anything but a side frightened that they might fail to escape the re-election zone.
They could have gone ahead in the eighth minute when Chris Williams eluded the Gresley defence only to scoop his shot wide from six-yards when it seemed easier to score.
And when ex-Rovers Mel Whitehouse supplied a superb cross from the right only a spectacular piece of goalkeeping deprived Chris Morris.
So difficult were the conditions that Rovers probably felt they would be more effective kicking into the wind after the interval. If that was the case, their hopes were shattered.
No sooner had the game restarted than King was being cautioned – harshly, I thought – for a trip on Morris and when he foolishly persisted in disputing the decision he was given his marching orders.
Suddenly, Rovers had their backs to the wall and it looked ominously as though it was not to be their afternoon when Kevin Banton, their best forward, went off for treatment, reducing them to nine men temporarily.
United, their confidence reinforced by the unexpected opportunity to cause one of the upsets of the season, briefly threatened to turn Gresley’s despair into absolute misery.
Karl Austin had to be at his best to deal with a powerful 20-yard shot from another ex-Gresley player Paul Dearn and Morris squandered their best chance when he headed wide from only five yards.
Yet Rovers showed their character by regaining their composure to produce a telling spell of pressure.
Beresford, angry at not be awarded a penalty after receiving a hefty shove in the back, went desperately near giving Gresley the lead with a far-post header.
Gresley Rovers (0) 1
Wolverhampton United (0) 0
Scorer: Dolby 79.
Gresley Rovers: Austin, Earley, Philpott, West, Dolby, King, Arthur, Laws, Priest, Beresford, Banton. Sub: Davey.
Wolverhampton United: Brewer, Guest, Cooper, Potts, Goodhead, Williams L, Ballard, Morris, Williams C, Dearn. Whitehouse. Sub: McDonald.
Referee: L L Watson (Coventry).
Attendance: 323
