Gresley Rovers vs Lye Town
Rovers misery – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Frustration stalked the Moat Ground yet again as Gresley missed a golden opportunity to strengthen their claim for the Banks’s League title last night.
A second half penalty proved the turning point in a game which Rovers dominated against a Lye side which, despite manager Frank Northwood’s pre-match accolades, looked little more than ordinary. The Rovers boss had dubbed Lye “the best team Rovers have played this season” but for the first hour Gresley were comfortably in control.
Leading from the 35th minute through Martin Devaney’s second goal in successive games, Gresley looked well set to move a significant step closer to their manager’s dream of the title when disaster struck.
Sweeper Dean Page dallied an dithered deep in his own half and ended up conceding a throw instead of clearing. And when the ball was hurled into Rovers box Page and midfielder Guy Hall conspired between them to blatantly push striker John Day, leaving Dave Beasley to equalise from the penalty spot.
For regular Moat Ground midweekers it was a familiar scenario, and if, in the final reckoning, Gresley fall short of the title mark, it may well be that they will have to look to dropped home points as they have in seasons past.
The idea of Gresley’s losing had seemed fanciful in an opening period in which Lye never looked likely to live up to their high-scoring reputation.
Bob Aston had made a smart diving save in the first minute to keep out a low shot from Kevin Hadley that was in any case accompanied by an offside flag. After that, the Rovers keeper probably had has much difficulty in keeping warm as the 287 onlookers.
Even so, Gresley were unable to trouble Aston’s opposite number Nick Adams until Neil Lovell quickly returned a half clearance into the path of the lively Gary Stevens who brought the keeper rushing from his line to make a smart blocking save.
The danger was not passed, however, for from Lovell’s corner kick Mark Abbotts forced the ball goalwards and when the keeper made a half stop on the line Devaney gleefully converted.
Gresley continued to maintain comfortable control after the turn around but the closest they came to increasing their lead was when Guy Hall just failed to connect with Steve Dolby’s long forward pass.
Chances became more numerous after Lye’s unexpected equaliser but Joe Jackson wasted the best of them when he blasted Stevens’ cross over a wide-open goal. Then Adams distinguished himself again with brave saves from Stevens and Devaney’s point-blank effort.
Rovers’ agony knew no bounds but there was very nearly a sting in the tail. John Wesson, fortunate to be on the field after a dreadful tackle from behind on Jackson earlier, found his progress down the middle halted by Hall’s foul and, taking the free kick himself, was robbed of totally undeserved glory only by Aston’s superb tip-over save.
Gresley Rovers (1) 1
Lye Town (0) 1
Scorer: Devaney 35 (Gresley Rovers); Beasley (pen) 63 (Lye Town).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Dick, Bromley, Lovell, Dolby, Page, Jackson, Abbotts (Arthur 68), Stevens, Devaney, Hall.
Lye Town: Adams, Homer, Cooper, Randall, Paskin, Beasley, Hadley, Skett, Day, Wesson, Ingram. Sub: Parkes.
Gresley man-of-the-match – Gary Stevens.
Referee: K Dunn (Atherstone).
Attendance: 287
