Gresley Rovers vs Burton Albion
Johnson Joy – Rex Page – Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers’ monopoly of the Johnson Cup was ended as Burton Albion impressively extended their pre-season form at the Moat Ground on Saturday.
Albion, substantially remodelled in the close season both in terms of personnel and style of play, provided further evidence that the summer has been wisely spent.
Assisted by a blustery wind, they dominated the first half and were suitably rewarded by two goals they will be hard-pressed to better once the serious business starts on Saturday.
Gresley, to their credit, grudgingly hung on to Albion’s shirt tails and were rewarded for their contribution to an entertaining game when Andy Maddocks matched the quality of the Brewers’ finishing to halve the deficit.
In the end, the result was just about the right reflection of Albion’s extra sharpness and quality in most areas of the pitch.
Gresley, of course, take considerable delight in embarrassing their more exalted neighbours, but hope of their third successive triumph in this local private skirmish were more or less wrecked in a ten-minute spell.
Albion’s blitz began in the 29th minute when Andy Canning, weaving across the edge of the area in search of an opening, smashed in a left-foot shot of such awesome power that Bob Aston’s dive was nothing more than a token gesture at preventing a goal.
The Brewers’ second goal was a triumph for the fluent movement and accurate passing that has been drilled into them in training by coach Brian Kenning.
Gresley found themselves chasing shadows as Albion struck deep into the right-side of their defence and when Paul Hendrie crashed a 20-yard shot against the bar Dean Bridge barely had to flex a muscle to head in the rebound from close range.
Rovers were nothing if not persistent, however, and with the elements in their favour after the interval they succeeded in making a game of it.
Not even the most ardent Albion follower could deny them of their deserved reward in the 66th minute.
Kieron Smith, bursting through from midfield, flitted past Phil Titley to catch the Brewers unusually short of cover.
The rest was sheer perfection as the will of the wisp forward provided the pass which sent Maddocks surging into the area to beat Goodwin with a ruthlessly executed left-foot from 15 yards.
The suspicion was, though, that Albion had something in reserve and newly-signed defender Chris Keogh almost proved the point with a powerful shot from 30 yards that bought the best out of Bob Aston.
Gresley, willing to the end, were never able to sustain enough pressure to ruffle the feathers of a composed Albion defence.
Their last chance arrived in a blur of action in the 79th minute. Substitute Nigel Duggins seizing onto Albion’s attempt to clear a corner, unleashed a fiercely dipping right foot volley that was guided over the bar with supreme confidence by Nick Goodwin.
Gresley Rovers (0) 1
Burton Albion (2) 2
Scorers: Maddocks 66 (Gresley Rovers); Canning 29, Bridge 35 (Burton Albion).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Perry, Dick, Denby, Land, Turner, Guest (Duggins 70), Smith, Acklam (Dearn 69), Maddocks, Lovell (Laws 45).
Burton Albion: Goodwin, Straw, Keogh, Redfern, Titley, Simms, Hendrie, Canning (Preston 77), Bridge (Carr 45), McDonald, Bruce.
Referee: Mr Horswell (Repton).
Attendance: 683
