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Rocester had to be patient against a gritty Gresley Reserve team at Hawfields, and they were justly rewarded five minutes from time when new signing Stuart Simpson struck a superb winner to send the Romans into next Wednesday's final against either host club Newhall United or Stapenhill.
The Romans certainly had the better of the game and displayed much more individual quality than Gresley's well-organised second string, but they found it difficult to create anything in the final third and, when they did, they found goalkeeper Paul Hollis in fine form.
Hollis made two notable saves, one in each half, to frustrate the Romans. Firstly, he dived full length to his left to palm the ball away after Liam Holt met Craig Hulme's excellent right wing cross first time on the volley, and he made another fine save after the break to deny Mark Hodson with his feet after the striker had been sent clear by Luke Chapman.
Tom Govan came on to replace Hollis for the last fifteen minutes, and he was soon in the action blocking two efforts in a matter of seconds before one of his defenders scrambled the ball clear of the danger zone.
Rocester kept probing away, and with time running out and a penalty shoot-out drawing ever closer the game was settled by a moment of brilliance from Simpson, who spent last season with West Midlands League side Riverway. Sam Wain held the ball up well out near the left touchline before delivering a cross to Simpson who was patrolling on the edge of the area. The striker controlled the ball, turned towards goal, and clipped a delightful shot into the top left corner, giving Govan no chance at all. |