Blakenall vs Gresley Rovers
Andy’s saver – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Goal-hungry midfielder Andy Moore provided a priceless 83rd minute strike to win what will almost certainly prove to be Gresley Rovers’ hardest-earned point of the season at Blakenall on Saturday.
Moore’s header looped past Blakenall keeper Paul Hayward for a richly deserved leveller just as it seemed that the Banks’s League bruisers were going to inflict Gresley’s first away defeat of the season.
But seething Moat chief Frank Northwood said afterwards: “I’m not happy that we salvaged a point – I’m unhappy that we didn’t get all three.”
Northwood’s ire was aimed mainly at Blakenall for an uncompromising approach that reduced the game to a string of free kicks – although it must be said that when Rovers toughened up their game after the break they were guilty of conceding a string of needless fouls themselves.
Northwood was also critical of referee Murray who failed to add on a single second despite numerous second half stoppages and some thinly-disguised time-wasting by the home side.
And those seconds could have been vital for Gresley for the longer the game went on, the more they looked like getting the winner.
Blakenall, all pace and power, had stormed into a downhill lead after 25 minutes when former Moat Ground striker Mark Sparrock turned brilliantly onto a pass from another ex-Rover midfielder Gary Stevens, to give Bob Aston no chance with a precise right foot shot.
But in an opening half notable for its lack of shots at goal Gresley hung on to start the second half with the slope in their favour and only one goal to claw back.
Blakenall defended well but Rovers – and substitute Bobby Evans in particular – were unlucky when two goal bound shots were deflected away. Said Evans: “Both of them were on target. I thought the second one was going in but a defender managed to get his head in the way – and I bet it gave him a headache!”
It seemed that Gresley would have the bigger need for aspirin as the minutes ticked away but with just seven left the Blakenall barrier was finally breached.
Graham Jones, my man-of-the-match if only for the tremendous amount of graft he produced up front, especially after being deprived of strike partner Paul Acklam by injury – turned his marker on the left as Gresley threw players forward in desperation.
“There was nothing on really but I kept chasing and managed to hold the ball up,” said Jones afterwards. “Everyone was in the middle so I just chipped it back.”
Of all people it was diminutive midfielder Andy Moore who got on the end of the cross and although he admitted later that he had not made perfect contact with the ball it spun into the top corner to earn what could ultimately prove a vital point.
Blakenall (1) 1
Gresley Rovers (0) 1
Scorers: Sparrock 25 (Blakenall); Moore 83 (Gresley Rovers).
Blakenall: Hayward, Crook, Hill, Davis, Walsh, Bland, Stevens, Folland, Sparrock, Keeling. Subs not used: Brotherton, Knox.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Dick (Fernihough 30), Perry, Guest, Haskins, Page, Moore, Smith, Acklam (Evans 30), Jones, Denby.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Graham Jones.
Referee: I C Murray (Coventry).
Attendance: 220
