Hinckley Athletic vs Gresley Rovers
No festive spirit – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
The sparkle went out of Gresley Rovers’ Christmas very quickly at Middlefield Road yesterday.
It took Hinckley Athletic just seven minutes to leave Gresley in no doubt that, if this was the season of good cheer, no-one had told them about it.
Rovers reshaped rearguard was exposed by a right wing move ending with full back Steve Markham’s cross and Paul Montgomery’s looping shot that Bob Aston off his line, could only touch onto the bar. Striker Scott Mackay tucked into the leftovers by prodding the loose ball home from a couple of yards.
A rapid defensive reshuffle with Steve Astley returning to his more accustomed sweeping role, immediately gave Gresley a more balanced look but there were more scares to come as the home side warmed to their task. Mackay beating Aston as the keeper raced from his line only for Ray Skeemer to clear for a corner and Gary Hammond seeing a thumping shot held on the line after the flag kick had gone short.
Gresley were gradually assuming control, though, with some fluid approach work involving Tracey Norton’s trickery and Kieron Smith’s pace although they waited until the last 10 minutes of the half for the ball to run their way in the penalty area.
Hinckley’s well organised back four was in absence as Gil Land moved from the right side of defence to the inside left channel where Paul Acklam’s flick on from Richard Denby cross left him clear to send the ball booming into the top of the net via a post.
Hammond saw a 30-yard drive tipped over by Aston but as half time came and went it was Gresley who looked the more likely, Acklam sliding onto Michael Guest’s cross only for keeper Paul Bray to save at his feet and Norton thumping shots narrowly wide of both Hinckley posts in the space of a couple of minutes.
There were jittery moments in the Gresley defence, though, despite the commanding form of reinstated stopper Skeemer.
Montgomery was unlucky when he reached Markham’s cross a split second ahead of Aston but headed wide, then a match winning chance went begging after Land had given the ball away in the middle, Montgomery setting up Mackay with just Aston to beat only for the keeper to save brilliantly at his feet, Astley blocking Hammond’s shot from the loose ball.
Hinckley Athletic (1) 1
Gresley Rovers (1) 1
Scorers: Mackay 7 (Hinckley Athletic); Land 35 (Gresley Rovers).
Hinckley Athletic: Bray, Markham, Cox, Scoular, Dawson, M Smith, Benjamin (Shackleton 45), Hammond, Mackay, Tammejoe, Montgomery. Sub not used: Lambert.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Nicklin, Astley, Denby, Land, Skeemer, Guest, Norton, Acklam (Maddocks 82), Smith, Lovell (Bottomley 75).
Gresley man-of-the-match: Ray Skeemer.
Referee: A Black (Caldecote).
Attendance: 237
