Gresley Rovers vs Wednesfield Social
Six goal spree – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers finally hit the goal note at the Moat Ground last night.
They blasted six against a patchwork Wednesfield – who included 50’s Wolves star Terry Wharton – and could easily have had double figures for the third time this term.
The goal rush started after half an hour of hurried Gresley possession, Paul Acklam crossing from the right, both Kieron Smith and a defender failing to connect and Steve Astley, unmarked at the far post, lashing in the opening goal.
Trace Norton gave Gresley a comfortable interval cushion when he shot home after a kindly bounce had put two defenders out of the game, Acklam again the provider from Bob Aston’s huge kick.
Richard Denby’s thunderbolt just wide set the tone for the second half and it wasn’t long before Gresley were hitting the back of the net again, Astley deflecting the ball home after Smith hit a piledriver from Denby’s corner.
Then Martin Dick crossed from the right for Astley to fire in a ferocious left footer, this time substitute Graham Smith diverting the ball over the line.
Astley had another superb effort disallowed for offside before Wednesfield, always looking to play football despite the one-sidedness of the encounter, gained token reward. Paul Moore picked up on Michael Guest’s poor header and floated the ball over Aston.
Gresley hit back with typical venom, Norton grabbing his second with a close range header from Jones’ cross then seeing another goal bound effort hit a defender on the line.
Aston excelled with saves from veteran defender Maurice Head and the lively Moore, before Denby capped another commanding performance with Gresley’s sixth, brushing past Norton to collect Andy Moore’s cross and side footing past Social’s shellshocked Chris Lunn.
Gresley Rovers (2) 6
Wednesfield Social (0) 1
Scorers: Astley 30,55; Norton 40,63; Jones 58; Denby 80 (Gresley Rovers). P Moore 61 (Wednesfield Social).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Dick, Guest, Denby, Haskins, Page, A Moore, Norton, Acklam (Jones 51), Smith, Astley. Sub not used: Lovell.
Wednesfield Social: C Lunn, Thurstans (S Lunn 60), Lowe, Walker, Head, Rowe, Wharton (Curtis 78), Rowley, Muir, P Moore, McCinnis.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Steve Astley.
Referee: D Lee (Sheffield).
Attendance: 265
