Note that this page is from our Gresley Rovers archive. It may not be related to the new Gresley Rovers (formerly Gresley FC until 2020).
So near..so far
Story courtesy of
Gresley Rovers’ Wembley dream is over. A 1-1 draw with Bridlington Town at the Moat Ground on Saturday was not enough to overcome the Yorkshire side’s first leg lead, leaving Rovers and their manager Steve Dolby to rue what might have been.
A disconsolate Dolby said after a game marred by fighting between rival “fans” at the final whistle: “The difference between going out and getting to Wembley was the width of a post.”Rovers stormed the Bridlington goal in the first half with Paul Acklam first forcing a brilliant save from Town keeper Ian Taylor then firing against the woodwork. Martin Devaney eventually broke the deadlock with a brilliant strike only for Town to equalise just six minutes later from their only chance of the half.
Said Dolby: “They punished our only mistake of the game, and that wasn’t really a bad error, just half a mistake really when two defenders challenged for the same ball. That was a sickening blow for us. If we could have kept the score at 1-0 at half time it would have been a different game. Credit to Bridlington, they did there job in the second half. But in the first half we were by far the better side. We gave everything and I really feel for the players – there were tears in the dressing room afterwards.
“Paul Acklam had two great efforts. Their keeper made a great save from one and the other hit a post, but when they had their chance the ball flew into the top corner.”
Said Acklam: “We needed an early goal but their keeper made a tremendous save – I thought that one was in. I hit the post, then Martin scored and we were well on top. They had one chance and he took it really well. The lads are absolutely gutted.”
Said Devaney: “We just needed that little bit of luck and it never came. In the second half we just couldn’t get the ball down.”
Victorious manager Colin Richardson had words of consolation for Rovers, saying: “It would have made a great final – everybody knows these were the best two sides in it. Gresley have given us a hell of a game but my lads have played tremendously well.”
Dolby now faces the task of trying to lift his players for a concerted challenge for the Beazer Midland title, starting tomorrow night against Bilston at the Moat Ground.
He said: “The season’s far from over. This will take some getting out of our systems but we’ve got a home game against Bilston and I fully expect the players to bounce back.”
