Pelsall Villa vs Gresley Rovers
Gresley Rovers youth keepers Dale Spedding (broken thumb) and Adam Redfern (hamstring) were both missing for this match against Pelsall Villa
Coming to the rescue was keeper Simon Baldwin, who played for Rovers a couple of seasons ago, including a couple of games for the first team.
Rovers started the game quite sprightly carrying on from the sort of form shown last week against Alfreton Town.
One 19 minutes Rovers delivered a high ball into the Villa box, the keeper completely missing it and a defender handled the ball trying to control it to make his clearance.
Richard Allen stepped up to take the spot kick a scored with excellent shot beating the keeper to his right hand side.
On 33 minutes Allen scored his second when he received the ball in the midfield and went on a solo run going past four players. His shot from fifteen yards found the net with the keeper no-where.
The game was now mostly with Rovers but on 40 they conceded a penalty that goalkeeper Baldwin superbly saved to his right side.
Two minutes into the second half Villa broke through Rovers defence and went one on one with the keeper. The Villa striker made no mistake has he coolly slot it past the keeper and into the net.
On 55 minutes Martin Smith replaced Matt Brown and Rovers went to three at the back.
Villa now managed to get more into the game and were threatening Rovers defence and goal.
On 85 minutes Dave Harper, a striker who had his first run out for Rovers in central defence, replaced James Walker.
Rovers just managed to hold on to their lead but only due to goalkeeper Baldwin who was very sharp and alert running off his line to make a superb block near the edge of his area in the last minutes of the game when the Villa striker broke through on goal.
Well-done young Rovers on your first league win of the season.
Final score:
Pelsall Villa 1 – 2 Gresley Rovers
