Gresley Rovers vs Wolverton Town
Match report – Mike StJohn – Burton Mail
Substitute Mick Kurila rubbed Gresley Rovers mediocrity into their faces with a last-gasp goal as the Moatmen’s FA Cup run finished where it began – at the Preliminary stage.
Power-packed Wolverton whose players’ average height was above six feet, overthrew Frank Northwood’s man as after a ragged second half performance Rovers retired a poor second best.
The Milton Keynes, Vauxhall Opel Leaguers came to the Moat Ground with a purpose and duly carried it out.
Simply Gresley lacked that piercing attacking force that one has become accustomed to in recent games.
A replay always seemed to be on the cards, and a Tuesday night trek to Milton Keynes was all but arranged.
In a first half that offered equal goal scoring opportunities to both teams the visitor’s lanky Clive Resch powered a glancing header inches over following Gary Kiernan’s right wing corner, while at the other end a disappointing Brian Beresford lost control when a one-on-one situation with goalkeeper Paul Vickers presented itself.
Rovers experienced more than their fair share of anxious moments as the visitors used their height advantage to good effect.
Karl Austin was called on to punch clear Ned Redding’s header from another scorching Kiernan corner, and then had to pull out all the stops to dive acrobatically to his right and thwart David Pert’s cracking attempt.
The action quickly switched to the opposing goalmouth and winger Paul Stringer – who looks to be a very useful acquisition indeed – belted a left footed drive into the side netting.
As the Gresley midfield battled it out to reasonable effect passes forward were rarely seized upon with a visibly lethargic John Laws showing up as the main offender.
Gresley might have taken the lead when a firmly struck shot from Martin Devaney was very nearly planted by player-manager Roger Ashby into his own net, but Rovers’ faithful supporters must have known that it was not going to be their day.
Rovers’ clockwork needed a lot of winding up after the interval as Wolverton enjoyed long spells of pressure inside the Moatmen’s half.
On the hour Gresley managed to show at last as Wolverton lost their grip. A well struck attempt from Laws was tipped over by Vickers and then the goalkeeper turned round a Beresford strike for a corner.
Ambitious appeals for a penalty rang around the ground when an Adrian Worthington tackle upended Dave King, but like an earlier appeal the referee was having none of it.
Gresley found some inspiration in the form of Ian Earley who broke free on the left on numerous occasions, but somehow the rest of the pack failed to match it.
The final stages of the game entered into an exciting flurry of exchanges and if it hadn’t have been for a great save from Austin following a thundering attempt from Tim Head, Rovers would have already been a goal down.
Dead on the 90 minutes mark, disaster struck and Gresley were sentenced to defeat.
Resch made a penetrating dash down the right side, Steve Dolby challenged, and under pressure headed clear for a corner.
Kiernan’s inswinging flag kick made contact with a head in the packed goalmouth and Kurila couldn’t have had it easier as he stroked the ball home from two-yards.
Gresley Rovers (0) 0
Wolverton Town (0) 1
Scorer: Kurila 90.
Gresley Rovers: Austin, Arthur, Earley, Barrows, Dolby, King, Laws, Philpott (Bottomley 71), Devaney, Beresford, Stringer. Sub not used: Bromley.
Wolverton Town: Vickers, Wall, Head, Ashby, Beard, Redding, Resch, Pert (Kurila 71), Worthington, Smith, Kiernan. Sub not used: Gibson.
Referee: D Wesson (Northampton).
Attendance: 290
