Gresley Rovers vs Chasetown
Gresley in Blunderland – Mike St John – Burton Mail
The Moat Ground faithful were left wondering just how Gresley Rovers manager to slip to their first defeat of the season in the Banks’s League Premier Division at the hands of bottom side Chasetown.
The mood around the ground was suitably sombre afterwards.
If there is to be any crumb of comfort after this depressing reverse then it concerns Chasetown rather than Frank Northwood’s side.
Chasetown, a never say die outfit were certainly far better than their previous bottom position suggested.
The blow may be further softened for Northwood and coach Phil Marandola, by the fact that Chasetown keeper Dave Weale had a fine game, but there the excuses end.
It might have been so different had centre forward Ian Wells connected with Steve Astley’s towering cross from the right. Wells was only inches away from the centre in the fourth minute.
Weale had to keep on his toes to deny both Smith and Astley with swooping saves as Gresley promised an early goal.
On 32 minutes only the brilliance of Weale in the opposite goal stopped a certain goal. Graham Fearn won a corner on the right by line after beating two men and from the resultant flag kick turned over Paul Fernihough’s powerful header.
Neither side was afraid to have a stab at goal and as a lively first half drew to a close free kick merchant Andy Cox scorched a 30-yarder for Harrison to turn over.
Gresley piled on the pressure after the interval; they looked good for a goal and they were not to be denied.
Rich Denby cracked a meaty effort at goal. Again Weale had to be at his best to tip the ball over for a corner, but flapped hopelessly allowing Smith to head home at the far post.
Two minutes later Chasetown struck back – to score the first of three goals from free kick situations.
Cox sent the ball diagonally towards the far post, Harrison failed to read the situation quickly enough and Coterill glanced the ball home.
When Gresley went 2-1 ahead they really should have slowed things down. In an ideal substitution, Keith Hill scored within minutes of coming on as he headed home a fine Astley cross from the right.
But Chasetown needed only two minutes again to level. Cox was the man to cause Rovers downfall when he smashed a 25-yard plus free kick past Harrison and into the right corner.
Clumsy Gresley gave away another free kick – and this time they were in real trouble as Cox placed the ball a yard outside the area.
The right back clipped a short ball to Tipson, Tipson smashed the ball into the wall and Lane did the rest.
Gresley Rovers (0) 2
Chasetown (0) 3
Scorers: Smith 60, Hill 69 (Gresley Rovers); Cotterill 62, Cox 71, Lane 84 (Chasetown).
Gresley Rovers: Harrison, Dick, Perry, Denby, Fernihough, Page, Fearn, Lovell, Wells (Hill 63), Astley, Smith. Sub not used: Oldershaw.
Chasetown: Weale, Cox, Jones, Cotterill, Richards, Rose, M Rogers, Lane, Tonks, Dixon (Tipson 61), Briers. Sub not used: R Rogers.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Keiron Smith.
Referee: J T Boulton (Sparkhill).
Attendance: 274
