Match Report  |  Gresley Rovers vs Lye Town

Rovers ended their home games with a gutsy victory over high flying Lye Town. The Flyers are in with an outside chance of getting into the league playoffs, so a tough game was to be expected.

The home side welcomed both Martin Smyth and John Guy back into the squad with the latter taking a place on the bench.

Lye made the best start and Rovers were having to resist the pressure but with just 4 minutes on the clock Ben Billingham fired a shot just over the bar. Rovers began to steady the ship and went close themselves with Connor Pace’s well struck free kick bringing out a good save from Ben Newey.

Pace caused more Lye hearts to flutter as he cleverly turned his marker before hitting a low shot that whistled past the far post. The wind was creating problems for both sides and the game became a little scrappy as the first half came to a close with miss placed passes and clearances coming back from where they started. However, Richard Hanslow had one more effort saved by Newey.

The second half started in similar fashion as the first with Lye pressing hard from the whistle forcing two corners in quick succession.

Rovers made the first change on 57 minutes with Jenson Cooper replacing the hardworking Hanslow and 10 minutes later they were in front. The busy Dylan Hunniford made a run down the left and cut into the area where Billingham brought him down from behind giving referee Alex Rolfe no choice but to point to the spot. Jack Tyson took responsibility of taking the pressure kick and made no mistake blasting the ball past Newey.

Lye responded with substitute Sam Tye inches away from levelling the scores but is shot scorched the outside of the far post. Cooper went close to doubling Rovers’ advantage as he ran onto a ball over the top of the visiting defence but Newey was quick to respond racing off his line to claim the ball just in front of the striker who was poised to fire home.

The whistle ended the game and Rovers had claimed a vital three points in their relegation three-way tussle with Rugby and Rushden and saw they climb just above the other two side with Rugby now occupying the bottom slot. Have Lye’s play-off hopes been dashed? It remains to be seen as the scramble for those places at the other end of the table being just as intense.