Harworth CI vs Gresley Rovers
Jacko's joy - Richard Whitehead - Burton Mail
Guy Hall stormed into the spotlight on Saturday to help Gresley Rovers negotiate an awkward FA Vase hurdle - then revealed his determination to make his second spell at the Moat Ground happier than his first.
Hall emerged from six weeks suspension to play a key role in Rovers' single-goal victory over Haworth CI but afterwards was more concerned about looking forward than reflecting over the way things turned sour for him last season.
"There were a couple of times towards the end of last season when Frank Northwood and I didn't see eye to eye and in the summer he released me," said the former Burton Albion midfielder.
"But when he asked me to come back he made it clear that it was all in the past and I was delighted to re-sign.
And Northwood himself was happy to praise the man he brought back: "I thought Guy was the man of the match," he said. "He gave us some of the things we have been missing in the centre of midfield," the Moat Ground chief added.
Hall was an inspirational driving force in the first half, but after the break the effects of a six-week lay off began to catch up.
He explained: "For my sort of game you need to be very fit so it got more difficult for me as the game wore on. But I'm really pleased to be back and the set up this season seems geared up for success."
But while Hall's contribution was warmly received by Northwood he was less happy with the overall display.
"We made it hard for ourselves by missing chances," was his succinct summing up of the 90 minutes.
With the man who might have turned the game into a canter, Martin Devaney, watching from the touchline Rovers found it frustratingly difficult to find the killer instinct needed to subdue Harworth's disappointingly tame challenge.
A Jon Laws shot which flashed across the face of the goal was their nearest first half effort and the second period had been running for a worrying 27 minutes before the fatal blow was struck.
Keith Hill, who worked hard to replace Devaney, hurdled over Steve Hiner's clumsy challenge and squared for Joe Jackson to strike home with firm economy from just inside the area.
Rovers failure to add to that goal made for an unnecessary anxious closing spell during which Kevin Pressley saw a header hit the bar and Dave Cunningham had a shot which debutant keeper Dave Bolton spilled.
Harworth CI (0) 0
Gresley Rovers (0) 1
Scorer: Jackson 72.
Harworth CI: Calton, Ronan, Thompson, Cunningham, Hiner, Whittingham (Needham 66), Howard, Gladwin, Pressley, Eccleshall (Hadrell 82), Ackroyd.
Gresley Rovers: Bolton, Dick, Bromley, Skeemer, Dolby, Hall, Jackson, Laws (C Hill 75), Acklam, K Hill, Lovell. Sub not used: Sales.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Guy Hall.
Referee: R Shepherd (Baildon).
Attendance: 128
