Gresley Rovers vs Millfields
Stand-in Mike’s a Moat marvel – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Even a road works reshuffle at the last minute couldn’t stop Gresley’s progress at the Moat Ground on Saturday.
Manager Frank Northwood, already having to compensate for the absence of holidaying centre half Martin Haskins, had pencilled in his side earlier in the day but was forced into a late rethink when midfielder Andy Moore and utility man Steve Astley – who had been told on Saturday morning that he would be replacing Haskins – failed to report at the appointed time.
That meant a move to midfield for striker Graham Jones and a late call up for Michael Guest at the heart of the defence – and both moves proved successful.
Smith revelled in the extra space of his position wide on the right while Guest’s almost faultless performance earned special praise from Northwood afterwards.
“Michael came into the side very late and played superbly,” said the veteran chief. “He used the ball very well and it’s given us a selection problem of the nicest kind when Martin returns.”
Astley, meanwhile, was full of disappointment. He and Moore had both attempted to get back to Gresley from their Black Country bases via the bailey bridge at Walton – only to find it closed for repairs. That meant a long detour through Burton and a last-minute seat on the subs’ bench.
Said Astley: “When Frank told me I was playing I was ready to do business and keep my shirt. I was a bit upset at being late because you have to take your chances when they come along.”
Just back from an unhappy sojourn with Beazer Midland outfit Ashtree Highfield, he was, however, able to make his mark as a 75th minute substitute.
His first touch was a cross from the left that Milfields defender Phil Hollingsworth handled to give Rovers a point-clinching penalty.
Smiled Astley: “I hit it with my left foot and those usually go for goal kicks! It was going onto Andy Maddocks’ head when the defender stuck an arm out.”
That gave man-of-the-match Graham Jones, earlier fighting a one-man war with the Millfields defence, an opportunity to place his spot kick low to the left and add to his first half goal.
Not everyone in the 319 crowd was pleased though. Explained Northwood: “Some people were complaining but I thought the lads played with a lot of commitment. What some people don’t appear to realise is that at this stage of the season everybody’s after you to knock you off your perch. You have to be patient – that’s what these games are all about. And the lads played very patiently today.”
Midfielder Neil Lovell summed up Northwood’s frustrations afterwards, saying: “Millfields came here to lose by as few goals as possible.”
That meant getting bodies back deep into the visiting penalty area and a lack of ambition up front reflected in one stark statistic: Gresley keeper Bob Aston did not have a save to make.
Millfields’ Mark Williams made up for his counterpart’s lack of activity with a busy afternoon that culminated with some superb late stops to keep the scoreline reasonably respectable.
But he was powerless to prevent Jones from firing Rovers ahead on 23 minutes after picking up a Smith pass.
Andy Maddocks almost knocked Williams cold with a ferocious overhead kick that the dazed keeper grabbed at the second attempt. Then, after Jones’ successful penalty, Williams worked wonders again to keep out Paul Acklam.
Jones was so close to a hat trick in the dying minutes as first Williams fisted a header from Moore’s corner off the line then a curling shot from Richard Denby’s superb through ball flew inches over the bar.
Gresley Rovers (1) 2
Millfields (0) 0
Scorer: Jones 23, 75 (pen).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Bottomley, Dick, Denby, Guest, Page, Smith (Moore 61), Maddocks, Acklam, Jones, Lovell (Astley 75).
Millfields: Williams, Noakes, Roberts, Taylor, Hollingsworth, Cosnett, Fleet, Robbins, Rolfe, Bowen (East 61), Priest. Sub not used: Philips.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Graham Jones.
Referee: S D Ross (Polesworth).
Attendance: 319
