Oldbury United vs Gresley Rovers
Gritty Gresley make a point – Mike StJohn – Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers’ tenacious toil earned a fully deserved Banks’s League point for Frank Northwood’s title-chasers.
Northwood’s muddy marvels slipped and slithered their way through The Crickkets mud to prove yet again that they are table-topping Oldbury’s biggest bogey side.
Gresley would dearly have loved to have picked up both points, of course, and when they took a 63rd minute lead through former Oldbury striker Dave Morrison, maximum points seemed within reach.
But within a minute Rovers let it slip when they allowed United to reply with a fast-fire equaliser courtesy of a Dean Page own goal.
Oldbury had failed to beat Gresley in the last seven meetings and on this occasion Rovers were richly indebted to Bob Aston, who performed absolute wonders in the Gresley goal.
In dreadful conditions, with driving rain turning the pitch into a quagmire, the Rovers keeper pulled off a string of superb saves to keep out the Black Country hot shots.
Hero Aston’s busy afternoon started immediately. Steve Astley’s header had to be snatched from underneath the bar and then a diving header from Steve Vowles had the keeper had the keeper at full stretch.
When Rovers got to grips with the gluepot conditions they launched two telling raids. Martin Devaney and Gary Stevens combined well but as the Gresley front-runners splashed their way forward a well-placed Morrison was unable to turn and a good chance was lost.
Rovers deserved more when Martin Devaney flashed a menacing attempt across the face of the goal.
But it was the opposing end that saw one of the most crucial contributions take place. In the 30th minute Oldbury’s Paul Brown hurled down the right flank from the half way line and cut into the area but it was only a magnificent clearance by the impressive Martin Dick – later to be stretchered off – that prevented Astley scoring.
The increasingly busy Aston had to make two more brave saves, but it was Gresley who broke the deadlock in the 63rd minute.
Dick looped a cross from the right over Oldbury centre-half Vowles and new boy Morrison scored his third goal in as many games for the Moatmen with a firm drive past Johnson.
But Rovers’ joy was short-lived. Clive Bullock was allowed to streak off on a penetrating run up the left side and when the ball was whipped over the hapless Page sliced it over Aston, against a post and into the back of the net.
John Bottomley so nearly presented Oldbury with a second goal with a heart stopping back pass. Fortunately for Rovers, Aston was at his best to snuff out the danger.
Sadly the game was marred by the unfortunate departure of Dick with a nasty gash to the right shin. Rovers had already used their substitute and were forced to play out the final eight minutes with ten men, Gresley still managed to go close to victory.
Jon Laws received a square ball from Morrison thundered in a waist-high shot which Johnson dramatically tipped round for a corner.
Oldbury United (0) 1
Gresley Rovers (0) 1
Scorers: Page (o.g.) 64 (Oldbury United); Morrison 63 (Gresley Rovers).
Oldbury United: Johnson, Baker, Humphries, Brown, Vowles, Nicklin, Walton, Norton, Astley, Bullock, Banks (Jones 78).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Dick, Bromley, Bottomley, Dolby, Page, Jackson, Stevens, Morrison, Devaney, Hill (Laws 60).
Rovers man-of-the-match: Bob Aston.
Referee: L L Watson (Coventry).
Attendance: 234
