Hinckley Town vs Gresley Rovers
Acklam off as Gresley crash – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
In wind, mud and misery, Gresley Rovers’ long unbeaten run came to a sad and sorry end at Hinckley last night.
Gresley, battered by the wind and soaked by the incessant rain in the first half of non-stop home pressure, made two dreadful errors. Nonetheless, the home side’s interval lead did not seem insurmountable considering that Rovers had the elements on their side after the turn, but Gresley were unable to match their hosts’ fire and enthusiasm in the second half.
To make matters worse, striker Paul Acklam was sent off in the 68th minute after a clash with former Rovers defender Barry Wilcox.
Hinckley went ahead after just 12 minutes. Keeper Lol Chamberlain hit a wind assisted kick into the Gresley Box, lines of communication between Dean Page and keeper Bob Aston broke down completely and the Rovers skipper back headed into the net with Aston advancing from his line.
Gresley did their best to summon a coherent response, Graham Jones hammering a shot wide from 25-yards after a typically determined run by Martin Dick, but there was no legislating for further tragedy to come.
The influential Dave Tedds had the Gresley defence slipping and sliding with a killing through pass and although Aston claimed the ball well ahead of Les Ebrey he allowed it to squirm from his grasp, presenting the striker with a chance he could not miss.
Rovers emerged for the second half in canary yellow borrowed from their hosts but they may well have flown the white flag of surrender. Manager Frank Northwood introduced Steve Astley and Andy Maddocks with the intention of battering the home side into submission but it was a ploy that failed miserably.
Hinckley stood firm and the league leaders’ cause was hardly helped when Acklam was dismissed, apparently after an off-the-ball incident involving, of all people, Wilcox.
Hinckley sealed victory with the goal of the game 13 minutes from time, defender John Lane crashing the ball home from the edge of the box after fluent approach work.
Ebrey delivered the coup de grace in the 83rd minute, heading home from close range after Tedds had crossed from the right.
Hinckley Town (2) 4
Gresley Rovers (0) 0
Scorers: Page (og) 12, Ebrey 35, 83, Lane 77.
Hinckley Town: Chamberlain, Potter, Purser, Wilcox, Lane, Williams, Tedds, Massey, Ebrey, Childs, Taylor. Subs not used: Hopewell, Corby.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Bottomley, Dick, Denby, Haskins, Page, Moore (Astley 45), Smith, Acklam, Jones, Lovell. Sub not used: Maddocks.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Martin Dick.
Referee: M J Branwood (Lichfield).
Attendance: 120
