Gresley Rovers vs Oldswinford
Barrows boy carries the load – Mike StJohn – Burton Mail
Nigel Barrows kept Gresley Rovers hopes of clinching runners-up spot in the Banks’s West Midlands League firmly alive when he rattled home two goals inside the last four minutes at the Moat Ground on Saturday.
Gresley appeared to have frittered away a valuable home point against a surprisingly well organised Oldswinford before hero Barrows administered his lethal double dose in the dying minutes,
When Clive Arthur failed to tuck away a 67th minute penalty – it was an opportunity to score his 13th spot kick of the season – as goalkeeper Adams brilliantly pounced on the effort it looked for all the world as though Rovers would have to settle for a point.
But as Gresley realised the urgency of their task Oldswinford buckled under the Moatmen’s new lease of life and hero Barrows finished the visitors off with the efficiency of a true marksman.
Oldswinford looked everything but a side who had been handed a 6-0 defeat some 17-days earlier, and although Gresley hastily crashed a series of first half efforts wildly wide, the visitors survived to stubbornly hold on for a point.
Gresley badly missed the services of leading goal scorer Brian Beresford as chances were squandered before the interval.
When Rovers snuffed out Oldswinford’s early fire, the highlight of which was a fearsome effort from Wilson that breezed over the bar, they got a grip of matters and really should have taken the game by the scruff of the neck.
But inexplicably Arthur rushed a shot over the bar in the 21st minute, and then John Laws clipped an effort across the face of an unguarded Oldswinford goal.
The game entered a scrappy phase as both sides found it difficult to cope with the quickly drying Moat Ground mud.
But as the disjointed game shuddered towards half time a brilliantly timed diving header from Barrows following a Steve Dolby free kick drew roars of approval from the sizeable crowd.
Matters improved after the interval, and it was just as well that Gresley goalkeeper Karl Austin was as alert as ever as he snatched the ball away from approaching Wilson at the last second.
Gresley had the opportunity to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty after a lengthy consultation between the referee and lineman.
Veteran full back Les Prosser pushed Steve Dolby in the back, and although there was initial doubts as to the validity of the decision, Arthur had the opportunity to put his side ahead.
Instead, however, Arthur drilled the spot kick to Adam’s right and the goalkeeper made a superb stop. Such was the force of Arthur’s penalty that the goalkeeper was winded, and required the attention of the Oldswinford trainer.
As if inspired by Gresley’s lack of success, Oldswinford battled on as the chances of taking a point looked better by the minute.
Even the normally dependable Austin looked distinctly uncomfortable as the visitors swept towards the Gresley penalty area.
Welch combined well with Hickman and as Austin came out to collect an innocuous looking chest-high ball it very nearly slipped out of his grasp before he recovered.
Suddenly Gresley came out f the cold storage. Kevin Banton’s corner from the left was deftly knocked across the area by Dolby, Dave King in turn flicked the ball on for Barrows who stroked it home with the minimum of fuss from six yards.
Gresley’s patience was further rewarded when Arthur raced down the right wing after receiving King’s telling pass from the half way line.
As the Oldswinford defence looked to be in a state of shock from Barrows first strike, Arthur whipped over an inch perfect cross and the Gresley centre forward smashed the ball for Rovers second goal.
Gresley Rovers (0) 2
Oldswinford (0) 0
Scorer: Barrow 86, 89.
Gresley Rovers: Austin, Earley, Bromley, West, Dolby, King, Arthur, Laws, Barrows, Philpott (Butler 72), Banton.
Oldswinford: Adams, Prosser, Kettle, Norwood, Blunt, Brookes, Taylor (Weaver 83), Hickman, Wilson, Wood, Welch.
Referee: I C Murray (Walgrave).
