Gresley Rovers vs Lye Town
Helping hand for Rovers – Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers collected the points, but hardly looked championship contenders in Saturday’s Banks’s League clash at the Moat Ground.
Rovers were ahead after just five minutes, rather fortuitously, when a Lye defender sliced the ball into his own net, and then after squandering a handful of good chances they finally sealed the points with a penalty in the 85th minute.
It was a dour struggle throughout with Gresley having the early advantage, Beresford twice caused hasty clearances and then set up the opening goal.
That came when Stevens, making his home debut, cleverly pushed the ball through for Beresford to take on and centre, low and hard from the left.
Clive Arthur was menacing in the middle and Lye defender Steve Cooper was determined not to let the ball reach him. Cooper slid in – the ball flew into the net.
Rovers pushed forward without creating real chances and then might have been on the receiving end of a double Lye counter punch.
The first, on the quarter hour, saw the tall striker Bastable left unmarked in front of goal, but he headed wide, and then two minutes later, Cant was unable to use a superb pass inside the area, tamely miskicking and allowing Rovers to clear.
Rovers, having more of the ball, built another attack through Stevens, but he was heavily felled by Skett, earning the Lye player the game’s only booking.
Lye, on the break, looked as though they might snatch a goal. Wilkinson, their substitute, twice had shots blocked before Crannage made his second brilliant save of the match, to keep out Arthur’s 79th minute header.
Yet it was the keepers mishandling that paved the way for the penalty. Handley handled as Stevens gratefully went for the loose ball. Referee Singh pointed to the spot and Clive Arthur firmly rammed the 85th minute penalty home.
Gresley Rovers (1) 2
Lye Town (0) 0
Scorers: Cooper og 5, Aurthur (pen) 85.
Gresley Rovers: Austin, Bottomley, Earley, Laws, Dolby, Bromley, Arthur, Philpott, Stevens, Beresford, Devaney. Sub: Pearsall.
Lye Town: Crannage, Cant (Wilkinson 67), Cooper, Guest, Paskin, Jackson, Hadley, Skett, Bastable, Beasley, Smith.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Gary Stevens
Referee: G Singh (Wolverhampton).
Attendance: 310
