Malvern Town vs Gresley Rovers
Skeeming a draw – Brian Spare – Burton Mail
Great news from Malvern’s Longlands Stadium – Ray Skeemer is back!
The giant central defender, out of the Gresley side for the best part of two seasons after breaking a leg, returned to play as if he he had never been away on Saturday.
And he played his part as Gresley, whose long unbeaten run seemed over with just two minutes left, pinched a point with a last gasp own goal.
Gresley should have gone ahead on 15 minutes when Paul Stringer found himself with only the Malvern keeper to beat but after a moment of indecision shot straight at Hingley.
Malvern had strong appeals for a penalty turned down after former Manchester City striker Bobby Shinton was sent tumbling, but referee Priest inconsistent throughout, waved play on.
Gresley were struggling to put any threatening moves together and on 28 minutes striker Steve Round headed narrowly over.
Nonetheless the Moatmen could have had an interval lead when Brian Beresford headed Martin Devaney’s cross narrowly past the angle.
Shinton and Round both went close at the start of the second half and it took a superb save from Gresley’s Karl Austin to keep the scores level.
Ten minutes from time Malvern went in front. Bryan Mogford ran through a static Gresley defence and gave Austin no chance with a diagonal cross.
Just as Gresley’s long unbeaten record seemed over, Mogford turned from hero to villain. Devaney’s left wing run took him past a string of defenders and Mogford’s lunging attempt to intercept his cross succeeded only in turning the ball into his own net.
Malvern Town (0) 1
Gresley Rovers (0) 1
Scorers: Mogford 80 (Malvern Town): Mogford og 88 (Gresley Rovers).
Malvern Town: Hingley, Price, Bailey, Moverley, Taylor, Selby, Rawlins, Mogford, Round, Shinton, East. Sub: Chambers.
Gresley Rovers: Austin, Earley, Bromley, West, Skeemer, Laws, Arthur, Philpott, Devaney, Beresford, Stringer. Sub: Bottomley.
Referee: B D Priest (Halesowen).
Attendance: 110
