United Counties Premier League North
The Stag Ground, Kimberley
Tuesday, 30th July 2024, 7.45pm
Remarkable Comeback By Rovers
This was a strange game as Gresley Rovers found themselves a goal down with hardly two minutes on the clock and two down after just seven minutes despite playing well. On the half hour Rovers were three goals down and things looked bleak.
Personnel changes after the break made a difference and Rovers launched a tremendous fight back to claim a point at the end.
The game started in blistering fashion with both sides at 100 mph and the home side were in front on two minutes when a move down the left ended with Paul Johnson slotting home. Rovers should have leveled almost immediately but Nathan Banton’s shot, after being put through on goal went straight at the goalkeeper.
From the resultant goal kick Kimberley raced into a two-goal lead with Lewis Weaver collecting a long ball before cutting inside before firing past visiting keeper Joe Williams.
To Rovers’ credit they did not let their heads drop and continued to push forward looking for that elusive goal. Danny Munday forced keeper Thomas Smith into punching the ball away and on 19 minutes they were handed a lifeline when the lively Fin Barker was brought down in the area. Munday took the spot kick, which was a poor one, allowing Smith to save the low struck ball.
Barker went close twice putting his shots narrowly wide of the post but on the half hour mark Kimberley increased their advantage. A cross from the right was not cleared at the far post and Weaver was on hand to nod home for his second of the game.
Things looked bleak for the visitors but still they pressed forward forcing numerous corners which came to nothing. Munday was in on goal but his shot was blocked by the keeper’s legs. He went close again moments later when he flicked a header from Alby Lansdowne’s long throw narrowly the wrong side of the post. Another chance for Rovers almost on the halftime whistle with Lansdowne’s header being held by Smith.
Rovers looked shellshocked walking off for the break as they had played well but as we’ve seen in previous games those goals, they deserved just would not come.
After the break Rovers made a couple of changes which were to make an impact. On came young defender Osaze Okuonghae and Jamie Sleigh for Ben Gough and Alex Britton respectively.
Still Rovers pressed and the feeling was from the travelling faithful that if they could score then they could get back into the game. They were dominating the game and yet another chance went close with Kane Lee heading a corner from Bekir Halil over the bar at the back post.
With the visitors pressing so hard they were a bit vulnerable to a quick break and it took and perfectly timed last-ditch tackle from Landsdowne to prevent Kimberley from adding to their tally.
On 61 minutes Rovers got the deserved goal their play had deserved. A good flowing move between Sleigh and Lee through the middle ended with Sleigh curling a sublime curling shot into the top far corner giving Smith no chance.
Two more changes with Jacob Sturgess and Dylan Hunniford replacing Halil and Banton. Louis Anthony headed a corner just over the bar and on 76 minutes a bit of a scramble in the home box saw the post struck and a clearance off the line before Munday rammed the loose ball into the net from close in.
Was the remarkable comeback on. Well yes it was as two minutes later unbelievably Rovers were level. A superb run from Barker ended with him hitting an unstoppable shot past Smith.
Barker went an inch away from winning the game for his team when Sleigh fed the ball through to Barker who then hit another rocket of a shot which left Smith standing but the ball hit the bar flush on the front and the ball came back out. It would have been a fitting conclusion as the young man had had a great game and helped fully in the remarkable turn around full of determination character from his teammates claiming a fully deserved point at the very least.
