Gresley Rovers vs Oldbury United
Brian’s in business – Rex Page – Burton Mail
Brian Beresford rediscovered his scoring touch last night as Gresley Rovers roared to an emphatic Moat Ground victory over title rivals Oldbury United.
The Moat Ground’s prodigal son had scored only twice – once from the penalty spot – since his defection back to Gresley from Stapenhill in August.
Fears that his ruthless cutting edge might finally have been blunted by the advance of years were allayed when he struck twice in the opening half-hour as Rovers reeled off their seventh straight win in the Banks’s League campaign.
By half time Rovers were home and dry. Their lead had been extended by Richard Denby, who shook off the effects of a heavy cold to score direct from a free kick, and in first half injury time Oldbury’s problems multiplied when defender Glen Pooler was sent off for his second gruesome challenge of the half.
Rovers could not have wished for a better start. Beresford fastened onto Russell Walton’s wayward back pass to waltz round keeper Steve Johnson and stroke Gresley’s opener after only two minutes.
It was not immediately the signal for an onslaught despite a superb display of wingmanship by Steve Adcock on the left.
Oldbury twice had chances to put themselves on level terms, the most obvious falling in the 17th minute to Clive Bullock who beat the offside trap but then fired against the foot of a post.
Aston immediately had to leap to his right to clutch Tony Hadland’s firm header, but just as Gresley appeared to be under threat they suddenly accelerated into an unassailable lead.
Michael Guest’s firmly driven centre eluded the Oldbury defence, but not Beresford whose predatory instincts took him into the right place at the right time to divert the ball wide of the hopelessly wrong-footed Johnson in the 27th minute.
Kieron Smith wasted a headed chance laid on by the trickery of Adcock before Denby drove in a 22-yard free kick in the 37th minute to punish a badly-constructed defensive wall.
The second half was a dissapointment for Rovers’ fans hungry for goals. Oldbury with ten men made a rather better job of defending than they did with a full complement, Pooler having been dismissed for twice attempting to maim Andy Maddocks.
Whenever Rovers spread the ball wide, however, they looked capable of adding to their tally and Adcock duly obliged in the 66th minute with a splendid cross to the far post for the hard-working Maddocks to head eagerly into the roof of the net.
Oldbury, to their credit, refused to fold completely and there was a crumb of consolation when Hadland drove home a 20-yard volley in the 73rd minute.
Gresley Rovers (3) 4
Oldbury United (0) 1
Scorers: Beresford 2, 27; Denby 37; Maddocks 66 (Gresley Rovers); Hadland 73 (Oldbury United).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Bottomley, Bromley, Denby, Land, Astley, Guest, Smith, Maddocks, Beresford, Adcock. Subs not used: Perry, Fearn.
Oldbury United: Johnson, Walton, Wells, Hadland, Vowles, Pooler, Hartshorne, Unitt, Rossi, Jomes, Bullock. Subs not used: Sorrell, Bestall.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Steve Adcock.
Referee: A E Ashley (Nuneaton).
Attendance: 375
