Rushall Olympic vs Gresley Rovers
Bob slayed! – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Free-signing Moat boss Frank Northwood may have raised a few eyebrows with his glut of early-season captures for Gresley Rovers.
But last night the value of a strong squad was fully highlighted as rejigged Rovers battled their way to a difficult draw at Rushall.
Stripped of inspirational defensive kingpin and skipper Dean Page by unavailability and of left back Martin Dick by illness, Northwood’s enforced re-shuffle did little to dent the shape and confidence of his in-form side.
Steve Astley, more accustomed to a place on the sub’s bench in recent weeks and now believed to be the transfer target of other West Midlands club, was a particular revelation in Page’s sweeper’s role.
And when a further rethink was forced by Paul Acklam’s eighth-minute injury, Northwood was able to call top scorer Kieron Smith off the substitutes bench.
Astley, back in the position in which he revelled at former club Oldbury, was instrumental in blunting a home attack boasting one of the best records in the Banks’s League.
But Rovers’ real hero was keeper Bob Aston, whose string of spectacular second half saves denied Rushall a win they barely merited.
For although the home side’s quick, hard-working approach tested Rovers to the limit Gresley were probably narrow points winner on the night.
And they will probably look back today on two golden opportunities that could have won them all three points.
Peter Perry shot over from eight yards midway through the first half after Martin Haskins had flicked on a Richard Denby corner during one of Gresley’s best spells.
Then, with just 10 minutes remaining, Graham Jones sidefooted wide from the best chance of the game after an Andy Moore corner had been inadvertently helped on by a defender.
Northwood, though, had no complaints afterwards. “A draw was a fair result and a good one for us,” he said afterwards. “It was a good game of football and I’m quite happy to come away from here with something in the bag.”
Not many sides will achieve that on the evidence of last night’s mist-swathed affair. Rushall, all running and tackling, cancelled out the attacking instincts of their high-riding visitors in the opening exchanges then forced their way into contention with some slick approach work, although Aston had little more than a series of long range efforts to deal with before the break, the best a 25-yard free kick from the powerful Mark Wakefield that the keeper was happy to watch pass narrowly wide.
Aston was soon warming his hands again after the interval, getting down well to deal with a more accurate effort from Wakefield as play swung from end to end.
Opposite number Steve Chandler did well to block a meaty effort from Haskins then Aston produced the save of the night from Paul Sullivan’s close-range header as the home fans prepared to celebrate what seemed a certain goal.
Rushall were looking good by now, helped somewhat in the 65th minute by a statuesque Rovers defence that allowed Darren Bradburn’s innocuous cross to reach Mark Comerford, Aston again diving to the rescue.
With time running out Jones came within an ace of snatching the points with a shot half saved that substitute Martin Morris swept off the line. Then Tracey Norton went down under Sullivan’s challenge but before his teammates could do so much as appeal for a penalty referee Banwell was blowing for full time.
Rushall Olympic (0) 0
Gresley Rovers (0) 0
Rushall Olympic: Chandler, C Page, Bradburn, Dawson, Sullivan, Wakefield, W Morris (Blackwell 76), Minton, P Page, Comerford (M Morris 86), Winwood.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Bottomley, Perry, Denby, Haskins, Astley, Moore, Norton, Acklam (Smith 16), Wells, Jones. Sub not used: Fernihough.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Bob Aston.
Referee: G Banwell (Stafford)
Attendance: 200
