Gresley Rovers vs Coventry Sporting
Rampant Rovers roar on – Rex Page – Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers’ burning desire to make their mark in the FA Vase was savagely unleashed on an unsuspecting Coventry Sporting at the Moat Ground on Saturday.
Sporting barely knew what had it them as Rovers produced a lethal cocktail of resilient defence, resourceful midfield play and ruthless finishing to sweep to a comprehensive second round victory.
The Southern League Midland Division high-riders went into the game with a reputation for an uncharitable attitude towards opposing forwards, yet long before the end they had been put through the mangle by a Gresley side back to its belligerent best.
After a tentative start, Rovers outplayed Coventry in most areas of the pitch, but it was the quality of their finishing which powerfully illuminated the difference between the sides.
The first goal after 15 minutes, it has to be admitted, was something of a gift. Kim Green and Mark Jones had posed enough of a threat to suggest that Rovers’ defence could expect an uncomfortable afternoon, but the one vital error made by either back four in a tense and taught first half came in the opposite penalty area.
John Bottomley’s teasing cross from the right lured Mark Garrood off his line and when the Coventry keeper failed to make a clean catch, the ball fell invitingly for Kevin Banton to bring it under control and tuck in a low shot from eight yards.
Rovers grew in confidence from that moment and any lingering doubts that they were the better side were cleared up in the 52nd minute.
Bottomley was again involved on the right, this time with a pass which gave Clive Arthur the chance to cut inside Kevin Kane and thrash in a rising left foot shot which Garrood had little hope of saving, even though he got his finger tips to the ball.
Coventry seemed incapable of changing their tactics even though defeat was so obviously staring them in the face and, as their frustration mounted, Lennie Derby and the cynical Peter Hormantschuk were cautioned for slicing down the twisting and turning Martin Devaney.
Gresley’s formidable answer was to produce another flurry of imaginative pressure that put the game well out of Coventry’s reach, if that wasn’t already the case.
Jon Laws, still searching for the form which made him such an influential player last season, wasted a glaring opportunity after the industrious Rob Philpott had sent him clear in the 69th minute, but Rovers again struck with venom in the 71st minute.
A bewitching interchange of passes between Banton and Arthur sliced open the Coventry defence on the right and it was left for Brian Beresford to produce a telling piece of finishing to take his tally for the season to 16 goals.
It was only when their cause was utterly lost that Sporting were able to impose themselves as Rovers, satisfied that they had done more than enough to send a season’s best crowd home happy, relaxed in the final quarter of the game.
Karl Austin, redundant for an hour or more, was given the opportunity to remind his audience of his supreme skills and superb saves from Derby and substitute Stewart Gallacher.
Gresley Rovers (1) 3
Coventry Sporting(0) 0
Scorers: Banton 15, Arthur 52, Beresford 71.
Gresley Rovers: Austin, Bottomley, Bromley, West, Dolby, Laws, Arthur, Philpott, Devaney, Beresford, Banton. Subs not used: Smith, Taylor.
Coventry Sporting: Garrwood, Cassidy (Gallacher 55), Kane, Derby, Howarth, Jennings, Rushton, Hormantschuk, Jones, Green, Anderson. Sub not used: Peltier.
Referee: A J Wiley (Chase Terrace).
Attendance: 414
