Gresley Rovers vs Hinckley Athletic
Scott put Rovers on the rocks – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers’ title aspirations took another knock in the Moat Ground rain and mud last night.
But as Rovers’ mid-season form crisis showed no signs of coming to an end, at least the 247 faithful who braved appalling conditions only to see another Banks’s League point lost got their money’s worth in entertainment.
Rovers seemed to have come through a supreme test of character when substitute Keith Hill crashed in a glorious 25-yarder to put his side back in the lead with just over ten minutes remaining.
But, as oft before, Gresley were caught by a quick break right at the end as centre forward Keith Scott completed his hat trick to give Hinckley a result they barely deserved.
Gresley, beginning to look fluent at times in midfield where Steve Daley’s absence was compensated by the graft of Jon Laws, the craft of Joe Jackson and the granite-like qualities of Guy Hall, dominated territorially after a shaky start but never looked fully capable of translating their superiority into goals despite the return of Brian Beresford for a belated first full league appearance of the season.
Hinckley’s determination to hold down their end by any means – fair or foul – added to the general discomfort of a scrappy opening period in which conditions were the prevailing factor.
But spirits were lifted when debutant winger Kirk Jennings – who certainly did enough in difficult circumstances to deserve a further opportunity on the right – slung a corner to the near post and Hinckley’s Mark Taylor, attempting to head away from Steve Dolby, diverted the ball into his own net.
But hints of a re-run of previous Moat Ground mid-week tragedies began when Hinckley equalised from nothing on 47 minutes.
Hall was foraying deep into the visitors’ penalty box when winger Anthony Hopewell blasted a clearance into the opposite half of the field. Gresley were caught overstretched and Scott raced away to round Karl Austin and equalise.
Eight minutes later Gresley were in real trouble when Scott grabbed his second at the far post after Paul Lambert had headed on Hopwell’s left wing cross.
All the pressure had been at the opposite end and so it carried on. Sure enough, when defender Richard Allen tried to tidy up with a short backpass on the hour. Beresford nipped in to intercept and was felled by keeper Colin Banton, Laws hammering a spot kick leveller.
Then relief turned to joy when Hill, after replacing Beresford, cracked a glorious third after a headed clearance had fallen to his feet some 25 yards from goal.
Luck must always play its part in deciding titles and Gresley certainly haven’t had much of a run of fortune in their recent midweek league games.
Sue enough, after more pressure, they allowed Hopwell and Scott to combine again for an equaliser with almost the last kick of the game that was certainly not one for the partisan fan.
Gresley Rovers (1) 3
Hinckley Athletic(0) 3
Scorers: Taylor (og) 34, Laws (pen) 61, Hill 79 (Gresley Rovers); K Scott 49, 57, 89 (Hinckley Athletic).
Gresley Rovers: Austin, Bottomley, Dick, Jennings, Dolby, Bromley, Jackson, Laws, Devaney, Beresford (Hill 66), Hall.
Hinckley Athletic: Burton, Markham, London, Milnes, Adams, Taylor, Lambert, K Scott, S Scott, Hopwell. Sub not used: Bray.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Jon Laws.
Referee: J A Biddle (Solihull).
Attendance: 274
