Paget Rangers vs Gresley Rovers
Rovers on the march – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers signalled their Banks’s League title intentions loud and clear in Sutton Coldfield last night.
Much fancied Paget Rangers were destroyed as Gresley clicked into a gear that delighted manager Frank Northwood.
“They played how we expected them to play. Paget were a good side tonight but we were superb,” said the veteran boss afterwards.
The win came as a superb tonic after last season’s twin disappointments of failing to clinch the title and then falling short of a Beazer Midlands place.
But if there was any doubt of Gresley’s renewed determination to make amends this time they were rapidly dispelled at Springfield Road last night.
Paul Acklam followed up his classy striker against Westfields on Saturday with a repeat performance – lobbing keeper Paul Wilding for a carbon copy 75th minute strike that sealed victory for Rovers.
A waspish 29th minute volley had put Gresley on the way and when Andy Maddocks turned defender Gary Williams attempted clearance into a second goal minutes after the break Gresley had the leeway to produce their best football for months.
Paget looked a good side but with Gil Land a bloodied bludgeon in the air, after splitting his head in a clash with Patrick Williams, and Steve Astley’s timing honed to perfection their cutting edge was blunted.
Astley flicked on Richard Denby’s corner on the half hour for Acklam to despatch with some finesse into the back of the net and give Gresley a lead they fully deserved after restricting Paget to just a couple of menacing breakaways confidently snuffed by the alert Bob Aston.
Maddocks seemed to have failed to make the best of Michael Guest’s pass but the ball ran Rovers’ way as Gary Williams attempt at a big clearance ended with the ball flying off the striker’s shins into the net.
Paget were exposed again and Acklam’s point blank miss from Guest’s cross palled to insignificance when he picked up a loose ball on the 18-yard line and shot just over Wilding’s outstretched hands – and just under the bar.
Patrick Williams’ bursting near post header from Sandiford’s cross was a deserved reward for Paget’s quality approach.
Paget Rangers (0) 1
Scorers: P Williams (Paget Rangers); Acklam 29, 75; Maddocks (Gresley Rovers)
Paget Rangers: Wilding, Whittingham, Darks, G Williams, Taylor, Jones, Howles, Evans (Christopher 66) , Sandiford, P Williams, Gibbs. Sub not used: O’Conner.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Perry, Dick, Denby, Land, Astley, Guest, Smith, Maddocks, Acklam, Lovell. Subs not used: Beresford, Laws.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Steve Astley.
Referee: G K Roderick (Castle Bromwich).
Attendance: 210
