RSSC Ransomes vs Gresley Rovers
Rovers lacking Suffolk punch – Richard Whitehead – Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers were welcomed into rural Suffolk like VIP visitors at a family party – and left with their reputation as perfect guests intact.
The biggest day in the 103-year history of RSSC Ransomes was not rounded off with a famous victory – but nor was it marred by defeat and the after-match reaction of the Ipswich club’s officials left none of the visitors from South Derbyshire in any doubt about what the 0 – 0 stalemate meant to them.
Right from the moment Rovers’ team coach arrived at Sidegate Avenue after the seaside stop-off in Great Yarmouth the prevailing atmosphere was of red carpet and spit and polish.
The programme notes talked of a “big Midlands club travelling to Sidegate Avenue,” the officials ushered everyone into a room thoughtfully provided with food and television and a committee member appeared breathlessly after placing advertisment boards around the pitch.
Ransomes are the first side from the Tolly Cobbold Suffolk League to reach the Third Round of the FA Vase and all the bally-hoo which surrounded the match put into perspective the events on the field.
Conscious of what the tie meant to the club and inspired by a crowd far larger than they are used to, Ransomes’ players were prepared to sweat blood in the cause.
They overcame their obvious technical deficiencies by sheer willingness to work and with Rovers unable to score the early goal which would have doused their enthusiasm the 110 minutes of football turned into a war of attrition.
Gresley, it must be said, were seldom seriously in danger of making an impromptu exit from the competition thanks mainly to the defensive security built on the re-formed central partnership of Steve Dolby and Mark Bromley and sealed by the excellence of Martin Dick and the almost superhuman contribution of John Bottomley.
It was in the midfield engine room and up-front where they failed to make their obvious extra quality count.
Manger Frank Northwood even took the unexpected step of withdrawing Steve Daley in a double substitution, as Rovers were sill restricted to a handful of clear-cut openings.
Keith Hill had perhaps the best first half opportunity but his skidding shot on the run was straight at the keeper and later in the first half Jon Laws narrowly failed to make contact with Guy Hall’s driven cross.
After the break Martin Devaney and Joe Jackson were only denied by the tenacity of the Ransomes defenders after the former had intercepted a backpass and in possibly the best chance of the match Daley’s cunning cross picked out Hall at the far post but his header was fractionally off-target.
Extra time also failed to provide the breakthrough although there were pleasing signs that Brian Beresford is beginning to re-discover his old sharpness.
Northwood’s after match reaction was typically direct: “I think we will win the replay,” he said.
“Their manager summed it up when he said that they had nothing to lose. It was their cup final and some credit is due to them for the way they battled.”
Perhaps the most telling after-match comment, though, came from Hill who put the afternoon neatly into perspective.
“Remember that when Liverpool go to places like York in the FA Cup they don’t always win away from home – it quite often needs a replay to settle the tie,” he said.
RSSC Ransomes (0) 0
Gresley Rovers (0) 0
After extra time
RSSC Ransomes: Hamblin, Poole, Cracknell, Chapman, Roper, Hodge, Wilding, Callaghan, Robinson (Hurd 96) , Thorpe, Ellis. Sub not used: Brewin.
Gresley Rovers: Austin, Bottomley, Dick, Daley (Berrisford 58), Dolby, Bromley, Jackson, Laws, Hill (Arthur 58), Devaney, Hall.
Gresley man-of-the-match: John Bottomley.
Referee: D W Duffett (Colchester).
Attendance: 320
