Gresley Rovers vs Oldbury United
Rovers face a re-match – Rex Page – Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers gave the new leaders of the Banks’s League a thorough examination at the Moat Ground last night – but failed to turn their superiority into goals in the quarter-final of the League Cup.
Oldbury, buoyed by a startling 4-2 win over title rivals Tamworth on Saturday, often looked second best as Gresley made a lively return after a three-week layoff.
Ultimately, though, Oldbury’s durable defence was able to keep in check a Gresley attack which has lost its early season potency.
The Black Country side must now be confident of avenging last year’s semi final defeat at the hands of the Moatmen.
Gresley’s hope of clinching a semi-final spot probably vanished in the 50th minute when striker Martin Devaney was despatched to hospital with concussion.
Until then Rovers had looked comfortably the better side, but once the classy striker had departed a stalemate looked increasingly likely.
“We should have sewn it up in the first half,” said manager Frank Northwood afterwards. “They were there for the taking but we simply ran out of ideas once Martin had gone off.”
Gresley fielded Bob Aston in goal after advising Karl Austin not to travel from his Oxford home because of doubts about whether the game would start.
In the event, the pitch was in surprisingly good condition thanks to the sterling efforts of Gresley’s groundstaff, while Aston spent most of the first half as an interested onlooker.
The best chance of the game came Rovers way in the 22nd minute after Martin Dick’s challenge had sent Keith Hill spurting clear of a square defence..
Hill’s fierce low shot was parried by Steve Johnson, but the Gresley player unaccountably failed to ram in the rebound with the goal at his mercy.
That move signalled the start of Gresley’s best spell. Jon Laws all but forced in a testing cross from Kirk Jennings and Hill, Devaney and Clive Arthur went close with shots from the edge of the area.
But the loss of Devaney proved too great a burden for Rovers to shoulder after the interval, substitute Guy Hall failing to make any sort of an impression.
Jennings forced an instinctive save from Johnson after pouncing on Hill’s low centre, but scoring opportunities became an increasingly rare commodity at either end.
It was not until the 68th minute that Aston was fully tested, though it required an excellent piece of work to keep out a full-blooded drive from the impressive Steve Vowles.
Arthur briefly raised the hopes of the home fans with a first time shot which flew inches wide from 20 yards, but it was left to Aston to ensure a replay when he clutched Steve Astley’s header at the foot of a post.
Gresley Rovers (0) 0
Oldbury United (0) 0
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Bottomley, Dick, Laws, Dolby, Bromley, Jackson, Arthur, Devaney (Hall 50), Hill, Jennings.
Oldbury United: Johnson, Southall, Hutchinson, Evans, Vowels, Astley, Seeker, Russell, Bullock, Jones. Sub not used: Wilson.
Gresley man-of-the-match: John Bottomley.
Referee: K H Hoare (Birmingham).
Attendance: 385
