Warrington Town vs Gresley Rovers
Rovers rocked by late goals – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
To describe Gresley Rovers manager Frank Northwood as a disappointed man at the end of a remarkable FA Vase ding-dong with Warrington would have been putting mildly to say the least.
Northwood saw his side score first, then come back from 2-1 down to take the lead with 13 minutes left only to encounter tragedy in a suicidal two-minute spell.
“We had the game – then we threw it away” said a crest-fallen Northwood – and no-one could have put it better.
For the way Rovers had stemmed hard tackling Warrington’s tide before taking the lead with a brilliant, if controversial goal from Brian Beresford on 42 minutes, gave good cause to suggest that they had all the necessary equipment to score a memorable victory.
Even after a tragic Steve Dolby own goal and some rank bad marking had allowed the home side to storm into the lead , the Moatmen showed they had the character to take the tie by turning the scoreline on its head.
What happened after that is best forgotten – but for Gresley’s sake it had better not be if they aim to win anything at all at the end of the season that has promised so much.
Twice Warrington were allowed to sweep through a static rear-guard to send all the good work that had gone before rushing down the drain with a very nasty gurgle.
Warrington, with a blend of skill, graft and man first, ball later tactics, looked formidable indeed in the opening stages but after Karl Austin had twice seen the ball fly narrowly wide of his goal in the first ten minutes Gresley began to get to grips.
Warrington were forced back to a safe distance and, as half time approached, Rovers began to apply some pressure of their own.
Clive Arthur forced an anxious save with a spectacular volley from outside the box after ‘keeper John O’Brien had punched away the winger’s corner.
Then Beresford turned onto Ian Earley’s pass on the edge of the box, wriggled past a queue of defenders and ignoring appeals for handball, lashed a rising shot into the right hand corner – Gresley were in front.
Two minutes into first half injury time, though, disaster. Austin stood rooted to his line as full back Kevin Gratton swung a cross high into the box and as the ball bobbled among a crowd of players, Dolby’s attempt to put it away for a corner failed horrendously and Warrington had a barely deserved equaliser.
That was only the start of the nightmare. Five minutes into the second half Neil Cook rose unchallenged to meet a corner from the right and the unmarked Steve Hughes stroked the ball into the net from five yards with arrogant ease.
If Gresley had capitulated then it would, perhaps have been understandable. But with new boy Gary Stevens showing flashes of class to go with the effort of his midfield colleagues, Rovers came back.
First Beresford rose to meet John Bottomley’s cross from the right and head his 30th goal of the season. The after Gresley’s best move of the game, involving Rob Philpott, Beresford and Jon laws, Martin Devaney slid Gresley into the lead from close range.
Rovers might have tried to shut up shop and weather the inevitable Warrington reprisals, but instead they then allowed substitute Tony Hill the space to race through on the right and beat Austin with what was virtually his first kick of the game.
Two minutes later the outstanding Cook was given time and opportunity to place a precise drive past Austin from 18 yards.
Warrington Town (1) 4
Gresley Rovers (1) 3
Scorers: Dolby (og) 47, Hughes 50, Hill, 79, Cook 81 (Warrington Town): Beresford 42, 66, Devaney 77 (Gresley Rovers).
Warrington Town: O’Brien, Gratton, Reid, Hunter, Copeland, Cook, Hughes, Kinsey (Shaw 90), Brownbill, Woodyer (Hill 78), Whittingham.
Gresley Rovers: Austin, Bottomley, Earley, Pearsall, Dolby, Devaney, Arthur, Philpott, Stevens, Beresford, Laws. Subs: Hall, Harlow.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Brian Beresford.
Referee: J Rushton (Stoke).
Attendance: 258
