Harrison's vs Gresley Rovers
Aston Thriller - Burton Mail
The sharply contrasting form of two goalkeepers provided the vital difference as Gresley Rovers maintained their unrelenting pace at the top of the Banks's League Premier Division at Hazel Lane Sports Ground on Saturday.
For it was a ghastly mistake by Harrisons' Gary Kitson which paved the way for Gresley to chalk up their tenth win in 12 league outings.
Eighteen minutes notable only for an injury to Harrisons' Stuart Meeson and a booking for Rovers mercurial midfielder Joe Jackson had slipped tediously by when Clive Arthur celebrated his return to first-team football thanks to the generosity of Kitson.
The flight of Arthur's over hit centre from the right completely deceived Kitson, whose hapless attempt to retrieve the situation merely helped the ball into the roof of the net.
"I thought we matched Gresley in general play and the only difference was the keepers," said former Rovers reserve boss Mick Plimmer, now manager of the Great Wyrley club.
It was not an opinion shared by his Gresley counterpart Frank Northwood.
He said: "I thought we did just enough. They battled well and the pitch was very difficult, but the important thing for me is that we won."
There can be no doubt, however, that Northwood might have been holding an inquest of an altogether different sort but for the agility and safe hands of Gresley keeper Bob Aston.
Harrisons produced their most telling spell of pressure in the opening stages of the second half.
After Mick Folland had squandered a clear chance, Aston brilliantly held Paul Grainger's firm header and then produced an even better save when the same player unleashed a fierce right-footed shot.
Sadly, it may be a long time before Gresley followers can admire Aston's talents again. He is due to start a 56-day suspension today - the result of that now infamous allegation that he bit the nose of an opposing manager.
Aston has lodged an appeal against the ruling, but is worried that the ban has been enforced so quickly.
He said: "Normally players are given 14 days to appeal, but my suspension is operative only nine days after the disciplinary hearing. I must admit I'm worried about that."
With the errant Karl Austin now back in Britain after his ill-fated mission to America and apparently waiting in the wings, Aston must be wondering what the future holds for him. At least Harrisons' did not spoil the day for him.
Their hopes of punishing Gresley's lethargy disappeared in the 57th minute.
Martin Dick, exploiting space on the left, shook the bar from the edge of the area and before Kitson could recover, Paul Acklam seized the opportunity to wriggle round him and walk the ball into the empty net.
It was all plain sailing for Gresley from that point onwards and only an unaccountable miss by Jackson from two yards out prevented Rovers from winning by a more handsome margin.
Harrisons (0) 0
Gresley Rovers (1) 2
Scorers: Arthur 18, Acklam 57.
Harrisons: Kitson, Bestall, Edwards, Grainger, Crook, Shepperd, Taylor, Bradbury, Folland, Meeson (Deeley 10), Sparrock.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Bottomley, Dick, Sales, Dolby, Hall, Jackson, Arthur (Laws 70), Acklam, K Hill, Lovell.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Martin Dick.
Referee: A Wiley (Chase Terrace).
Attendance: 70
