Rocester vs Gresley Rovers
A taste of things to come – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
If last night’s JCB Trophy semi-final was any sort of indicator for the Banks’s League title chase to come, back Rocester to go one better this time and take the title and Gresley to fall short yet again.
Three goals in 13 minutes at the Riversfield last night ensured that the home side maintained their now traditional superiority over the South Derbyshire side and that there was never any chance of Rovers spoiling the Romans’ 100th birthday party.
But while Rocester may well now go on to exploit a rich seam of pre-season form and take the Centenary Trophy, a sun baked July evening is not really the time for assessing prospects of the season to come.
Gresley certainly have a long way to go to launch a serious challenge on August 18. They were never able to find the zest, sparkle and eagerness for the ball that Rocester used to illuminate this entertaining if unseasonal encounter, although only the fine goalkeeping of Mark Deaville and some unfortunate finishing prevented them from at least making a scoring contribution to the game.
“We took our chances and they didn’t take theirs,” was Rocester striker Mick Collins somewhat benevolent analysis afterwards, the Banks’s League Player-of-the-Year having given a fine demonstration of the art of netting the ball after just nine minutes.
Rovers keeper Bob Aston appeared mesmerised by Chris Nixon’s superb right wing cross and was a mere spectator as Collins leapt at the far post to bury a powerful header.
After 21 minutes Rocester provided a near carbon copy of their opener, Nixon this time delivering a free kick from the right and Aston again floundering in no man’s land as Collins struck. This time the ball came back off a post for Savvy Anastasi to tap in.
Within a minute Gresley were in total ruins as John Mayer’s delightful forward pass found Anastasi in an acre of space in the middle and the finish was clinical from 16 yards.
Denby released Paul Acklam for a golden chance to reduce the arrears but Deaville saved again before half time and the second period was an inevitable anti-climax.
To make Aston’s misery complete he became the only player of the game to be booked after felling Richard Owen.
Rocester (3) 3
Gresley Rovers (0) 0
Scorers: Collins 9, Anastasi 21, 22.
Rocester: Deaville, P Ede, Nixon (Simcock 56), Owen, Tonks, K Barry, France (Croft 78), Mayer, Collins (M Ede 61), Anastasi, Hemmings.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, J Barry, Adcock (Haynes 66), Denby, Land (Hudson 45), Bromley, Christopher, Moore, Acklam (Dalkin 54), Beresford, Lovell (Simpson 45).
Refree: R Harrison (Codsall).
Attendance: 250
