Rugby United vs Gresley Rovers
Rugby Utd 0 v 0 Gresley Rovers
Gresley won 3-0 on pens aet.
Team from : J. Pemberton, A. Dunn, D. Cox, A. Harrison, L. Gadsby, J. Guthrie, A. Colley, S. Heer, R. Draycott, R. Yearsley, C. Blackshields, S. Berriman, P. Merry, and R. Jarvis.
This was a typical cup match with all the excitement of a cup-tie which had to be played to a finish.
It was never going to be easy, Rugby are currently lying third in the league and again Gresley were still unable to select from a full side. Chris Mawbey was still injured and Jak Ward was working. Despite the lack of goals, I feel it was an entertaining match.
The opening fifteen minutes saw Rugby start well, again their 3-5-2 formation giving Gresley trouble. However, Gresley continued to defend well and a very important goal line clearance from Harrison kept the score goalless.
After this, Gresley got to grips with Rugby's pattern and keeping to their own style of play began to trouble Rugby's defence. Heer and Draycott were superb against the three in the middle. Harrison and Gadsby dealt well with a very good Rugby forward line, as did Dunn and Cox. All four managed to bring the ball out well from the back and create. The game was very even and seemed to have spells of attack and defending for both teams. Pemberton was superb dealing with crosses and corners as well as being alert from his line to help defenders; he also made two fine saves, one in each half to keep us with a clean sheet.
Rugby's keeper was also in fine form and probably stopped the clearer cut chances, about five I reckon, including three one on ones. Poor finishing from both sides also added to the lack of goals, but still I felt the football most of the time was of good quality from both teams.
Second half saw Gresley have a great twenty minutes when they should have took the lead, Rugby then had a good spell including hitting the bar as Gresley looked tired for a while.
Gresley made changes, bringing on Richard Jarvis on the left for his debut and Scott Berriman went upfront. Berriman forced a good couple of saves from the Rugby keeper again, so still no score and extra time it was.
The lads looked tired and as though they had had enough, but a drink and a quick chat soon saw their character shinning through as they tackled the first period of extra time. Draycott was struggling with a calf muscle but still doing a great job and was a change we didn't want to make.
The size of the pitch and length of time playing saw more chances at both ends but with little result. Before the second period of half time and with the ok from Draycott, Phil Merry was introduced on the right of midfield and Johnnie Guthrie moved upfront. Guthrie, still just 17, seems to be getting better with every game as he gets used to playing at this level. He had caused and created many problems as he weaved in and out of the Rugby players. It looked like he would get his reward when Berriman's pace left the full back struggling and he fired in a low cross. Guthrie slid in with a stretched foot only to see the ball go over the bar from about a yard out.
As the game drew to a close Rugby almost snatched it when a good cross to the far post was volleyed over the bar when really the player should have scored.
So penalties it was.
You couldn't help but feel a sense of confidence, we all were thinking the same thing, they have to beat Pembo. Still the Rugby keeper too had looked good and would take some beating.
Gresley to start,
Penalty 1 Suka Heer powers his shot towards the top left, the keeper gets a touch but no chance of stopping it.
Penalty 2 Pembo dives high to his left to make a fine save. 1-0 Gresley.
Penalty 3, Scott Berriman sends the keeper the wrong way with a fine shot to the left. 2-0 Gresley.
Penalty 4, Pembo dives full stretch to his left again, this time a little lower, and again makes a fine save.
Penalty 5, captain Danny Cox steps up and slots another good penalty home. 3-0 Gresley and Rugby need to score to stay in.
Penalty 6, Pembo dives to his right this time and yes, saves again. Gresley win and are through to the semi finals.
What a great day, a great performance, and a great memory. Well done to ALL involved.
