Match Photos
Gresley Rovers vs Highgate United
Reserves vs Highgate United
The Reserve side beat Highgate Utd in the 1st round of the Challenge trophy, but left it very late, equalising late on to take the game into extra time. Trialist Sean James started on the left flank and Dan Miccichi in central midfield.
The afternoon started well when John Jenkinson put Rovers ahead after 3 minutes after he cut in from the left and fired his shot into the far corner of the net past Micheal Mills in the Highgate goal. The lead did not last long and Highgate were level on 14 minutes when Manager Gary Norton headed an own goal past the helpless James Lindley from a shot by Chris Powell. Highgate took a deserved lead on 42 minutes when sloppy tracking back in midfield left spare men on the edge of the Rovers box and with Norton failing to close down quickly enough Mark Lowrei had time to fire into the corner of the net.
Gresley tried to take the game to Highgate in the 2nd half with Earl Alexander in excellent form but it wasn't until the 79th minute that any real chance of note was created. Alex Hemming almost equalised but his shot flew just wide of the far post. It looked like being one of those games until in the 87th minute, a great ball in from the left by James Lewesley was met with a thundering header from Ryan Yearsley that found the net via the underside of the bar.
The game turned on an incident in the 96th minutes when Jermaine Clarke got clear of the Gresley defence and was brought down by Rovers skipper Paul Grosse. Red looked certain but referee Smith chose yellow and instead of Rovers going down to 10 men, it was Highgate as Clarke was forced to withdraw and Highgate had used all of their allotted substitutions.
Rovers took the lead in the 104th minute when quick thinking on a free kick by Lewesley released Mykey Price one on one and the former Highgate striker kept his cool to slot home. The game was won in the 109th min after a good cross from Jenkinson was flicked on by Alex Hemming into the path of Price who fired home from close range.
Final Score: 4 - 2 AET
Team
1. James Lindley
2. Gary Norton
3. Gareth Langford
4. Paul Grosse
5. Dan Miccichi
6. James Lewesley
7. Dan Lonergan
8. Greg Smith
9. John Jenkinson
10. Mykey Price
11. Sean James
12. Ryan Yearsley on 60th minute for James
14. Earl Alexander on 45th min for Smith
15. Alex Hemming on 45th min for Norton
Man of the Match: Earl Alexander
