Millfields vs Gresley Rovers
Acklam raises Rovers’ spirits – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Paul Acklam’s double pick-me-up gave Gresley just the tonic they needed at Noose Lane last night.
After Saturday’s first defeat of the season it was important that Rovers bounced straight back against struggling Millfields.
And goals in each half – both superb pieces of finishing – ensured Gresley returned to winning ways and re-established their position at the top of the Banks’s League.
Victory could and should have been far more emphatic, but that didn’t worry manager Frank Northwood.
He admitted afterwards: “We didn’t play very well but we still won at a canter. I’m happy – it’s always difficult to come here and get a result. I’m certain we’ve shaken off Saturday’s result. If we can have another nine wins on the trot then I shan’t complain.”
If that is to be, though, Rovers must find a sharper cutting edge in attack. They dominated last night’s game but only Acklam looked likely to score during 90 one-sided minutes.
And even he was guilty of wastefulness when he knocked substitute Tracey Norton’s cross over the bar in the 90th minute with a hat trick beckoning.
Gresley had missed their first chance after 27 minutes, Brian Beresford inexplicably shooting wide when put clean through by Richard Denby.
But with Denby controlling affairs in the middle goals seemed inevitable and seven minutes later Acklam controlled another pinpoint pass from the Gresley skipper before hitting the bottom corner of the net from just outside the penalty area.
Acklam seemed to have scored his second on the stroke of half time – Denby again the creator – but Millfields’ Phil Hollingsworth got back to clear off the line.
Traffic was even more one-way in the second half but incredibly there was just one goal, Acklam controlling John Bottomley’s cross before firing past keeper Gary Price from eight yards.
Millfields (0) 0
Gresley Rovers (1) 2
Scorer: Acklam 34, 60.
Millfields: Price, Perry, Owen, Hocknell, Hollingsworth, Haynes, Cosnett, East (R Evans 62), Forletta, K Evans, Scott. Sub not used: Harding.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Bottomley, Adcock, Denby, Land, Astley, Smith, Acklam, Maddocks (Norton 70), Beresford, Lovell (Guest 77).
Gresley man-of-the-match: Richard Denby.
Referee: J Carrington (Hinckley).
Attendance: 120
