Gresley Rovers vs Oldbury United
Norton roars in for Rovers - Andy Parker - Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers are back on the top of the Banks's League. And there was no-one happier about that fact after Saturday's Moat Ground classic last-minute goal hero Tracey Norton.
Norton's 89th-minute strike against his former team mates finally sealed all three points for a Gresley side reduced to ten men for the last half hour by Martin Dick's sending off and put paid to an Oldbury side that had produced some of the best football seen at the Moat Ground this season.
Said Norton, who quit the Black Country outfit after two seasons of finishing runners-up in the Banks's Premier to seek championship glory at the Moat Ground: "I was just so chuffed to score - I couldn't believe it. The was no love lost between me and my old mates. They gave me a hard time today. I got a fair few knocks and bruises, but I'm glad I had the final word."
Norton's vital strike moved Rovers ahead of Paget Rangers to the top of the table and Norton vowed: "I've been that close to a championship metal for the last two seasons I just want to make sure this time we can stay top.
"We've got a good side and there's a lot of movement up front. I'm sure we can lift the title."
Yet Norton revealed that a wonder save by Oldbury keeper Kevin Johnson just four minutes before his winning goal had all but knocked the stuffing out of him.
"I was so desperate to score against my old club. I had a shot from close in and the keeper managed to save it and I thought 'that's it, I'm not going to do it', I was shattered, really tired."
That the former Villa and Walsall goalgetter was able to dredge up the last reserves of hidden energy enabled the final seal to be put on an enthralling encounter that had the 315 crowd buzzing.
And United should take their fair share of the credit for one of the best games seen at the Moat in recent seasons.
Gresley dominated the opening quarter with Paul Acklam and Ian Wells prominent in some flowing forward moves that found Norton lacking the control to convert a couple of half chances that were Rovers' only reward.
Then Oldbury, with Bobby Evans giving Rovers' defence - Martin Dick in particular - a torrid time, wrestled their way back into contention with some glittering football that gave keeper Bob Aston the chance to show that his early jitters were in the past with some confident handling.
John Bottomley, outstanding on his return in place of the injured Peter Perry, came closest to a goal with a magnificent 30-yarder that keeper Johnson scooped off the line with Rovers claiming - not without some justification - that the ball had crept over the line. Then Evans and Steve Bowler linked to set Clive Bullock free but as Aston raced from his line the centre forward lobbed a yard wide.
Kieron Smith finally broke the deadlock after Norton had nipped in for a vital touch as Johnson and centre half Steve Vowles dithered in the box. Norton's nudge gave Smith a glimpse of goal and he buried a low shot from 15 yards.
It took another defensive lapse to put Oldbury level on 59 minutes. Evans dispossessed Dick, Dean Page missed the chance to clear and the mobile striker cut in from the right before before blasting a shot past Aston at the near post.
Three minutes later Evans' glee turned to agony. Chopped down by Dick in midfield, the Oldbury man was on his way to hospital with suspected torn knee ligaments and Dick inevitably, to an early bath.
Enter sub Steve Astley, another former Oldbury man, into the fray in place of the fading Acklam: with almost immediate effect. The burly midfielder set Smith free on the left and as Denby burst onto his pass in the box defender John Whooton's trip gave Andy Moore the chance to make up for his penalty lapse the previous week with another spot kick.
Alas, the former Wednesbury midfielder's kick lacked conviction and Johnson was able to save with some ease.
The minutes were ticking away and Paul Fernihough on to bolster Gresley's defence, thoughts turned to a point saved by the 10 men rather than two lost. But still the game ebbed and flowed. Astley headed wide at one end, Ian Bosworth over from a great opportunity at the other.
Then Astley's header gave Norton a golden chance, but Johnson produced a superb reaction stop.
A draw seemed inevitable. But then came Norton's fateful intervention, converting from close range after Ian Wells had leaped like a salmon to turn back Page's mighty free kick Rovers were back on top. Come the end of the season, may they still be sitting there!
Gresley Rovers (1) 2
Oldbury United (0) 1
Scorers: Smith 41, Norton 89 (Gresley Rovers); Evans 53 (Oldbury United).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Bottomley, Dick, Denby, Haskins, Page, Moore, Norton, Acklam (Astley 62), Wells, Smith (Fernihough 79).
Oldbury United: Johnson, Loughlan, Humphreys, Sorrel, Vowles, Wootton, Bowater, Bowater, Bosworth, Bullock, Evans (Rossi 62), Unitt. Sub not used: Swinhoe.
Gresley man-of-the-match: John Bottomley.
Attendance: 315
