Romulus 4 Kidsgrove Ath 1 - Grove downed by old-boy Blissett
Kidsgrove were undone by a first half hat-trick from former reserve player Nathan Blissett on a night to forget at Coles Lane.
With Steve Hodgson still suspended, Stuart Heeps made a return to the club in goal, and he was left shocked by some clinical finishing from the hosts, giving them an unassailable lead despite playing the majority of the second half with ten men.
Athletic started brightly and after 4 minutes Karl Charlton earned a free kick 25 yards from goal. Dave Bridgewater's floated ball was cleared as far as Craig Dove who hit a shot from just outside the area narrowly wide of the post.
Romulus responded with Chris Morris shooting straight at Heeps on 7 minutes. Shortly afterwards, Grove conceded a free-kick that Marvin Johnson played into the area, and with Heeps unable to reach the ball, BLISSETT was left with the simple task of slotting into the net.
Ross Davidson sought to set up an attack on the quarter hour mark, but lost possession after a good run, and the home side countered with an attempt from Ashley Jackson that went wide of the upright.
Kidsgrove then came close to an equaliser as, following a foul on Ashley Carter, Dave Bridgwater struck a free-kick from 25 yards that Nathan Vaughan managed to tip onto the post at full stretch.
On 25 minutes, Athletic fell further behind as Ashley JACKSON took advantage of a static defence and goalkeeper, dribbling in from the right side of the area unchallenged before firing into the net.
Although Grove were matching their opponents in terms of possession, the finishing was nowhere near the same standard. Two minutes after falling 2-0 behind, Carter passed to Karl Charlton six-yards out, but his tame shot was easily gathered by Vaughan. The same player then hit an effort over the bar a minute later.
Romulus continued to look threatening, with Johnson driving a free-kick into the defensive wall, and extended their lead on 36 minutes when a corner from the right was met by the head of an unmarked BLISSETT.
After Charlton had headed wide from a Dave Walker cross on 41 minutes, Athletic fell further behind as Morris pulled the ball back for BLISSETT who back-heeled the ball past Heeps to send a demoralised Kidsgrove in 4-0 down at the break.
Three minutes into the second period, the home side were reduced to 10 men as Ben Richards-Everton received a second yellow card for a handling the ball as he lay on the ground after a challenge from Andy Taylor near the edge of the Kidsgrove area.
Initially the loss of a player did not impact Romulus as they continued to match Grove and pass the ball well. Peter Ward introduced Darren Twigg on the hour mark to give some more attacking options. On 64 minutes Davidson found Walker on 20 yards from goal and his shot shaved the outside of the post.
Walker himself was replaced by young striker Danny Bull on 66 minutes, and in the final quarter of the game, Athletic began to dominate territory as the ten men of Romulus began to tire, any potential attacks being snuffed out by the excellent Andy Taylor in a sweeping role. Another attempt by Charlton was narrowly off target, and despite seeing a lot of the ball it seemed like Kidsgrove were destined not to score.
With the match in injury time, Grove did finally get on the scoresheet as Bull crossed in and TWIGG headed the ball home from close range. This consolation was his 90th goal for the club and came nearly six years after his last one in January 2006.
Team: Heeps, D Smith, P Taylor, A Taylor, Johnson, Charlton, Davidson, Dove (Twigg 60), Walker (Bull 62), Carter, Bridgwater.
Share Last updated: 7th December 2011, 19:03