Dorchester Town vs Gresley Rovers
S-Mart work, Rovers – Burton Mail
Martin Devaney’s double strike helped Gresley complete lesson one of their Beazer Premier acclimatisation course at Dorchester on Saturday – but Rovers boss Steve Dolby was swift to remind his elated new boys that future classes will be much tougher.
Delighted Dolby admitted afterwards: “I thought we were far the better side and Martin’s goals put us in control of the game. But we showed our inexperience by letting them back into it. There’s a lot for us to improve on and we’ve certainly got a lot to learn.”
Dorchester welcomed Rovers to the Premier Division by starting at a blistering pace, leaving Gresley struggling to piece together their passing game.
But with new boy Nick Stanborough and Stuart Evans quickly forging an impressive partnership in the heart of the defence Gresley soon began to impose themselves on their hosts and went close to drawing first blood when Scott Elliott tried his luck, a 30-yard shot drifting just wide of the angle.
Then Tony Diaz was on the end of Dorchester’s first threatening move but his header from inside the six-yard box was so lacking in power and direction that it bounced before reaching Bob Aston, who collected comfortably.
Devaney soon demonstrated the art of finishing to better effect after Richard Denby and Mark Hurst had opened up Town’s left flank with a delightful one-two, rising at the far post to head his skipper’s pinpoint cross past Mark Coombe from close range.
Thus boosted, Rovers now assumed control and Simon Osborne was close to adding a second, dispossessing Graham Kemp and firing into the side netting.
Stanborough than had the ball in the net from Denby’s free kick but the effort was disallowed for pushing, then referee Nocton failed to spot a Dorchester hand making contact with the ball in the penalty area.
A second goal seemed inevitable and Devaney went close to providing it after Coombe flapped at Denby’s 55th minute corner but his header was cleared off the line by Aaron Davis.
Rovers’ travelling fans had to wait only two more minutes to start celebrating, however, another flowing move involving Osborne, Denby and Hurst ending with Hurst chipping across goal from the left and Devaney arriving to volley home from close in.
Peter Conning saw the first yellow card of the season after depriving Osborne of a likely third with a trip from behind that might have merited dismissal, but Dorchester then went close to narrowing the gap after Rovers had bungled the free kick, a swift break ending with Aston saving smartly from Conning’s 18-yard shot.
Rovers failed to heed the warning, though, and minutes later Dorchester were back in the game after Robbie Taylor finished off a right wing move with a shot from 10 yards that gave Aston no chance.
Devaney went close to restoring the visitors’ advantage with a dipping 20-yarder, then Mike Taplin burst clear from midfield only for Coombe to save at the substitute’s feet.
As Dorchester turned up the heat Rovers flagged visibly in the sweltering heat and Aston was left with a head wound after clashing with Gary Manson. Fortunately, though, the Rovers keeper was not called on to make a another save as later efforts by Graham Kemp and Diaz flew off target to keep Gresley’s opening day joy unsullied.
Dorchester Town (0) 1
Gresley Rovers (1) 2
Scorers: Taylor 65 (Dorchester Town); Devaney 28, 75 (Gresley Rovers).
Dorchester Town: Coombe, Davis, White, Kemp, Lloyd, Conning, Taylor, T Diaz, Coleman, Green, Manson. Subs not used: J Diaz, Waters.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Dick (Rigg 64), Elliott, Denby, Stanborough, Wardle, Marsden, Osborne, Devaney, Hurst (Taplin 75).
Gresley man-of-the-match: Martin Devaney.
Referee: R M Nocton (Stroud).
Attendance: 622
