Gresley Rovers vs Tamworth
Jinxed! – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Once again Gresley Rovers failed to lay their Tamworth jinx at the Moat Ground on Saturday.
There was passion and fire, especially in a sizzling first half, and Rovers at least managed to get their old foes reeling on the ropes this time.
But with the woodwork coming to Tamworth’s rescue no fewer than four times Frank Northwood may have to wait a long time for another chance to earn victory laurels against the super Lambs.
For, make no mistake, the team that has broken Gresley hearts in no uncertain style in previous league and FA Cup encounters did for Gresley’s FAVase hopes this time around in no less a convincing way.
On this form they look a sure fire certainty for the Beazer Midland title – and well worth backing in the Vase stakes.
They were the more threatening side from the off and former Gresley striker Martin Devaney could have given him the lead as early as the second minute when he raced powerfully onto Martin Haskins’ misdirected back header before powering a shot into the side netting.
Instead it was Gresley’s star that was first to rise and in a crucial first half spell they could have laid their bogie.
First there was the delight of taking the lead, Tracey Norton despatching a penalty past Shaun Hemmings after the keeper, who had failed to hold an Ian Wells drive, tripped Kieron Smith as he nipped in for the loose ball.
That put Gresley briefly in the driving seat and bookings for Andy Moore and Dave Beattie were a measure of how fiercely Rovers battled to remain the initiative.
Tamworth’s ardour temporarily dampened, Rovers carved the chances that could have earned them a fourth round place. First Haskins knocked on Richard Denby’s perfectly flighted free kick only for Paul Acklam to completely miss his kick two yards out and Smith to surprisedly shoot wide as the ball found him similarly unmarked.
Then Smith got a touch to a Beattie cross to set up Denby 20 yards from goal but his rising shot hit the wrong side of the crossbar.
Gresley had a let off when Russell Gordon headed a Corrigan Lockett cross wide from close in then hit a low drive that ran through the Rovers six yard box untouched by defender or attacker.
Those were portents of what was to come and, sure enough, when Gordon knocked in a right wing free kick on 56 minutes defender Andy Foote rose unchallenged to bullet a header past Bob Aston from close range.
Gresley now looked the groggier but to their credit they battled back and should have won the tie when Acklam’s 20-yard shot beat Hemming only to rebound down from the crossbar. Those who were close enough to see swore afterwards that the ball had crossed the line but, unfortunately for the Moatmen, referee Singh did not number among them and awarded a corner instead of a goal.
Then there was more hard luck for when Ian Wells met Norton’s knock on with a perfectly struck shot the ball crashed to safety – again off the crossbar.
Barely had the pulse time to resume a normal rate when Micky George was performing a similar trick at the other end as Tamworth stormed back, Karl Rathbone heading inches over and Moore clearing a Foote header from the goalmouth, Aston beaten.
So extra time it was, the tragedy soon to unfold. Aston raced from his line to clear from Rathbone, collided with Dean Page and Gordon converted a simple tap-in chance.
Tamworth were rampant now as Gresley threw caution to the wind, pushing Haskins into attack in a desperate bid to force a replay. But the tactic backfired and, when Aston was forced to race from his box to clear from his box to clear his big boot up field was blocked by Devaney and Gordon was given another early Christmas present that prompted a certain section of the Tamworth following to sing about what they would be doing when they got drunk at Wembley.
Such boasts merely rubbed salt into already gaping wounds although Graham Fearn, a late introduction for the fading Wells, went close again with a curling free kick from the left that – you guessed it – hit the crossbar and bounced to safety.
It was one of those afternoons for Gresley, and one best forgotten, quickly and completely.
Gresley Rovers (1) 1
Tamworth (0) 3
(After extra time)
Scorers: Norton (pen) 17 (Gresley Rovers); Foote 56; Gordon 94, 100 (Tamworth).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Beattie, Perry, Denby, Haskins, Page, Moore, Norton, Acklam (Fernihough 105), Wells (Fearn 84), Smith.
Tamworth: Hemming, Lockett, Cartwright, Atkins, Foote, McCormack, George, Finn, Devaney, Gordon, Rathbone (Bromley 111). Sub not used: Brown.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Dean Page.
Referee: G Singh (Wolverhampton).
Attendance: 1
