Gresley Rovers vs Atherstone United
Dave Taylor went through agony and ecstasy at the moment ground last night.
Gresley's summer recruit from Ilkeston struck a razor-sharp 33rd minute goal to give his new team their third win of this season but left the field knowing he could and possibly should have claimed his first hat-trick of his fledgling Rovers career.
Twice Taylor suffered the frustration of seeing the ball snatched off his toes as he attempted to round United's debutant keeper Mark Dunn but there was a swift vote of confidence from boss Steve Dolby afterwards.
Said the moment chief: "Dave's disappointed but I just told him if he keeps getting into those positions he'll score 40 goals this year."
When Taylor did hit the net it was a purler of a strike, a lightning turn in the six yard box and a dagger like strike deep into the corner of the net after the outstanding players of the night, Paul Wardle and think Andy Garner, had created the opening to put paid to Atherstone's brave challenge.
Rovers near neighbours never settled for defeat in a game that swung like a pendulum from one goal area to the next but in which the Moatmen's new found defensive steel again proved the decisive factor.
The Adders showed their intent right from the off, Craig Knight cracking a 20 yard effort just Stuart Ford's post after Rob McGovern, making a nervous debut in an unaccustomed right back position, had lost possession in the centre circle.
But with Taylor full of intelligent running off the ball, Ady Mann a scurrying nuisance and Garner, all control and neat lay offs, pulling the strings as he did at the height of his form last season, Rovers soon took the game to their visitors.
The Rovers player coach had his strike partner in the thick of the action with the through ball that sent Taylor haring past Keith Russell's challenge only for Dunn to snatch the ball to safety.
Wardle sent to head the flashing over from Richard Denby's corner but then Ford had to get down well to clutch Darren Wright's snapshot at the opposite end.
McGovern produced a good tackle to rob Steve Campbell when Atherstone threatened again, then Russell cleared off the line when another Denby corner looked to be curling into the net.
Russell was catching the eye at both ends but especially with a series of powerful runs down the Atherstone's left, Campbell heading just the wrong side of the post from one pinpoint cross.
When the breakthrough came Gresley way, no-one could argue that it was not deserved. Brian Horseman's free kick from the left was met by towering header from Warldle and Garner squeezed the ball through for Taylor to lash home on the turn.
A minute later it could have been two when, after Malc Randle had gone full stretch to rob Taylor on another roared into the right of the box, Denby picked up the pieces to fire in a bullet shot towards the bottom corner that Dunn kept out only with an excellent save at the foot of a post.
It was still anybody's game as the second half began with Ford soon in action, denying Ellison after Horseman had failed to clear a right-wing shot.
Then Denby's through ball sent Mann clear on the left of the Adders box and there is were howls of indignation as referee Stretton turned aside penalty appeals after Dunn appeared to fell the midfielder as he ran away from goal.
Ford got down well to again denying Campbell as Atherstone produced another spell of concerted pressure, Taylor then shooting just past the angle as Graeme Rigg put him clear at the opposite end.
Atherstone's clear intent not to leave empty handed looked as it could cost them dearly when Garner's intuitive pass sent Taylor scooting clear but Dunn matched his first half save at the feet with a carbon copy to leave Taylor shaking his head in disgust.
In the end it mattered not, Ellison's thunderbolt that skimmed off the top of the bar proving insufficient to affect the destiny of the points, and Garner might have made it a more comfortable last ten minutes when he robbed Lee Everitt and broke clear only for Dunn to cap a solid nights work by racing from his area to boot the ball to safety.
Gresley Rovers (1) 1
Atherstone United (0) 0
Scorer: Taylor 33
Gresley Rovers: Ford, McGovern, Horseman, Denby, P Wardle, Stanborough, Fowkes, Rigg, Garner, Mann, Taylor. Subs not used: Ellis, Hurst, Weston
Atherstone United: Dunn, Everitt, Rumble, Wright, Read, Randle (Tomlinson 83), Judd, Ellison, S Campbell (W Campbell 78), Knight, Russell. Sub not used: Fellows (gk)
Gresley man-of-the-match: Andy Garner
Referee: G Stretton (Enderby)
Attendance: 702
