Harrison's vs Gresley Rovers
Costly Karl spoils Rovers’ return – Rex Page – Burton Mail
Gresly Rovers’ return to the ground, which hosted one of the most momentous occasions in their post-war history, proved a less than auspicious affair on Saturday.
Four months ago, Gresley battled to a goalless draw at the Great Wyrley side to earn runners-up spot in the Bank’s League.
And with Harrison’s no longer a major force, they were hoping to make the most of their sentimental journey by issuing a potent reminder that they are title material in the new campaign.
Yet Gresley did nothing to eradicate the niggling doubts that all is not going entirely to plan, even though they succeeded in stretching their unbeaten run to a league record of 29 games including seven this term.
A hotch-potch performance was unexpectedly compounded by two rare errors of judgement by Karl Austin, which twice allowed Harrison’s to haul themselves back into the game which seemed to be drifting beyond their reach..
Austin had one of those afternoons goalkeepers dread, but one which he is seldom forced to endure as Harrison’s punished his failure to deal with crosses into the Gresley area.
He has been a model of perfection since joining Rovers six months ago and the common law of averages said that he was due for a bad one.
The pity of it was that he should choose an afternoon on which his team-mates were also some distance below their best form.
Gresley defended well enough, but they showed only glimpses of their fluent attacking style and their midfield looked decidedly brittle when Harrison’s got the bit between their teeth in the second half.
All this contrasted sharply with the opening stages, when Rovers suggested they were capable of committing a massacre.
Brian Beresford and Clive Arthur had already gone close when Rovers took the lead with a splendidly created seventh minute goal.
The move was started in deepest defence by Ricky Hooman and ended with Beresford driving in a low shot from 12 yards after Ian Earley had cleverly laid Martin Devaney’s cross into his path.
Harrison’s surprisingly found themselves back on level terms in the 33rd minute.
There seemed no danger at all when Austin leapt to collect a centre from full back Clive Morris unchallenged, but he fumbled the ball to the feet of Nick Loftus who was able to tuck a six-yard shot into an unattended net.
Despite ominous signs that their grip had been broken, Gresley recaptured the lead after 40 minutes. Arthur’s firmly struck 25 yard free kick was only partially saved by Gary Ketson and Earley responded swiftly by ramming his first goal of the season into the roof of the net.
That lasted only three minutes after the interval.
This time Austin’s call deceived his colleagues and they made no attempt to challenge for another Morris centre. Austin was beaten to the ball by Loftus, whose back header gave former Rover Paul Dearn a simple chance to level the scores for a second time.
After that, Rovers rarely looked capable of regaining control as Harrison’s hustle and bustle completely knocked them out of their stride.
Rovers’ anxiety was emphasised when they drafted substitute John Bottomley into midfield to try to hold together a side that was starting to show signs of distress.
By now, their major pre-occupation was to preserve a point and their unbeaten record rather than try and win a game, which at one stage had seemed a formality for them.
Harrison’s (1) 2
Gresley Rovers (2) 2
Scorers: Loftus 33, Dearn 48: (Harrison’s): Beresford 7, Earley 40 (Gresley Rovers).
Harrison’s: Ketson, Bestall, Morris, Nicholls, Calvin, Goodhead, Baker, Moore, Dearn, Worrell, Loftus. Sub: Willis.
Gresley Rovers: Austin, Hooman (Bottomley 69), Bromley, Skeemer, Dolby, Laws, Arthur, Philpott, Devaney, Beresford, Early.
Referee: J T Shaw (Birmingham).
