Rushall Olympic vs Gresley Rovers
Alan’s a gem – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Gold-digging Gresley boss Frank Northwood last night unearthed another gem in his quest to put a rocking Rovers railcar right back on championship rails.
Alan Ryder, the goalkeeper plucked from Staffordshire soccer to performing task of replacing Moat Ground hero Karl Austin, capped a competent debit with a stunning 87th minute save to break the hearts of hard running, hard-tackling Rushall and sent Northwood and his men back to Gresley beaming with delight.
Ryder, who had made Rushall’s attacking ambitions impotent with impeccable handling throughout, somehow clawed away a point-blank header from striker Colin Trench just as it seemed that Rovers’ efforts to hang onto the slender advantage given them by Jon Laws’ spectacular 16th minute strike would be in vain.
But with the whole of Gresley’s defence showing the type of spirit that Northwood requires to relaunch a championship chase and the cultured and correct Gary Stevens oozing class all over the park, credit should not rest on Ryder’s shoulders alone.
Yet had it not been for the loss of a string of golden first half goal chances, Gresley would not have had to rely on the keeper’s last-gasp brilliance for the point.
With the wind at their backs, Rovers had threatened to swamp their hosts in the early exchanges.
Brian Beresford almost found a way through in the fifth minute after typically good approach play by Martin Devaney, but defender Mark Bowater whipped the ball away after the keeper had committed himself and became stranded.
Then Stevens had to stretch just an inch too far to meet Clive Arthur’s cross and headed too close to Andy Hughes.
But there was no lack of precision leading to Laws’ vital strike three minutes later.
Stevens kept the ball on the move with a first time pass after the blond midfielder had carried a move from deep in his own half and Laws accepted the return before lofting a shot high over the stranded Hughes and beneath the bar.
Rovers had a gilt-edged chance to double their advantage on 23 minutes after Beresford had been fouled in the area but Clive Arthur, normally deadly from the spot, blasted the penalty wide.
Laws shot wide, Arthur hit a meaty 25-yarder straight at the keeper and then Laws brought a stunning save from Hughes with a whiplash effort from ten yards.
Laws could have scored after being put clear by Ian Early but the ball was spending far more time at the other end now, giving Ryder ample opportunity to show off his confident handling of crosses from all angles.
The crowd gasped in awe as he produced his wonder save bit there was more drama to come. From the corner, Trench headed against the bar and when the ball fell to substitute Neil McGuiness, skipper Steve Dolby headed off the line to make sure of maximum points.
Rushall Olympic (0) 0
Gresley Rovers (1) 1
Scorer: Laws 16.
Rushall Olympic: Hughes, Jepson, Page, Slater, Bowater, Minton, King (McGuiness 53), Bellingham, Trench, Bourton, Bosworth.
Gresley Rovers: Ryder, Bottomley, Early, Bromley, Dolby, Devaney, Arthur, Philpott, Stevens, Beresford (Oldershaw 64), Laws.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Jon Laws.
Referee: T M Hobbis (Stourbridge).
Attendance: 150
