Gresley Rovers vs Hinckley Town
Rovers end Hinckley’s run – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Gresley’s super early show wrecked Hinckley Town’s winning run at the Moat Ground on Saturday.
Three goals in a devastating 20-minutes spell provided a sizzling launch pad for a game rich in incident and entertainment.
Rovers let the ball do all the work for their opener on 15 minutes. Richard Denby picked out Paul Acklam in space and the ball was quickly transferred to the left where Steve Adcock burst clear before sidestepping keeper Lol Chamberlain and firing home from six yards.
Ten minutes later more possession football ended with Adcock dinking in a cross from the left, Andy Maddocks heading back and Acklam converting from close range.
Gresley were irrepressible and when Maddocks held off two defenders on the left Gil Land burst into the picture on the opposite flank to send a pinpoint cross bulleting back into the bottom corner with a thundering header.
Inevitably, though, Gresley’s rhythm began to falter and full back Paul Purser pulled one back with a low 18-yard shot just before the interval.
Hinckley could have been level within minutes of the restart but Rovers old boy Colin Taylor fluffed his chance from ten yards.
Michael Guest was booked for a hot-headed challenge but Barry Wilcox was fortunate to stay on after an over-the-top challenge on Brian Beresford.
Hinckley roared back and substitute Dave Tedds reducing the score to 3-2 after Aston had parried a Tony Robinson blockbuster into his path.
Seconds later, though, substitute Tracey Norton thumped the ball home after Wilcox’s attempted clearance had rebounded off Taylor.
With four minutes left Mark Taylor’s cross wriggled beneath Astley’s boot to present Les Ebrey with a six-yard opportunity but a storming last five minutes could not deny Gresley.
Gresley Rovers (3) 4
Hinckley Town (1) 3
Scorers: Adcock 15, Acklam 25, Land 33, Norton 73 (Gresley Rovers); Purser 39, Tedds 72, Ebrey 86 (Hinckley Town).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Bottomley, Guest, Denby, Haskins, Astley, Land, Acklam, Maddocks, Beresford (Norton 73), Adcock. Sub not used: Lovell.
Hinckley Town: Chamberlain, Sales (Tedds 45), Purser, Williams, C Taylor, Wilcox (M Taylor 79), Potter, Massey, Ebrey, Childs, Robinson.
Gresley man-of-the-match: John Bottomley.
Referee: R W Harris (Codsall).
Attendance: 343
