Gresley Rovers vs Westfields
Gresley’s good old days – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
“Vintage football” was manager Frank Northwood’s verdict on Gresley’s five-star opening day demolition of Westfields.
But while Rovers’ smooth passing and – eventually – clinical finishing was sufficient to delight a healthy kick off crowd, the result also served as another reminder of the gulf in class that exists between the Banks’s League elite and its distant posse of also rans.
Indeed, Westfields’ only real contribution was a series of rugged fouls that left referee Carrington open to charges of not reading his summer correspondence.
Soccer’s hierarchy has decreed that referees take a tougher line with “professional” fouls this season but there was no sign of Mr Carrington’s book, even when Rovers’ Kieron Smith was hacked down en-route to goal by Westfields defender Chris Dzioba. Maybe the referee didn’t fancy attempting to spell his name.
There was never a doubt about the outcome, though, even though Rovers contrived to squander a string of chances in a hectic opening period.
Paul Acklam – whose normally ruthless finishing skills were apparently still on summer holiday – Andy Moore and Smith were all off target before Moore clashed heads with midfielder Steve Higgins and left the field for three stitches in a nasty cut.
Enter Gresley’s ageing gladiator Brian Beresford – and at last a goal, Richard Denby creating space with a skilful turn and crossfield run and debutant Scott Elliott surprising everyone – not least keeper Gordon Algio – with a precise finish from the corner of the penalty area.
It should have been two when Beresford superbly released Acklam through the centre but again the finish was wayward. And when the two linked again after the break the striker’s fierce effort came back off a post.
Beresford was in his element, torturing a tiring defence, and when defender Kevin Davies dropped a backpass short the Rovers substitute simply walked the ball past Algio and into the net.
Westfields’ resistance was all but quelled although Bob Aston had to produce his one save of the game, masterfully tipping Mark Tabb’s speculative 20-yarder out of the top corner.
The keeper soon hit back with a massive punt that Acklam laid off for second substitute Neil Lovell to thump unstoppably past Algio before Beresford re-imposed his presence with a cross from Lovell’s pass that Smith headed bravely home for a deserved goal.
The final say was left to Steve Astley, the sweeper bursting forward after Stuart Stokes’ cross had been half cleared to score with an acute angled drive.
Gresley Rovers (1) 5
Westfields (0) 0
Scorers: Elliott 34, Beresford 54, Lovell 70, Smith 80, Astley 85.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Barry, Dick, Denby, Land, Astley, Stokes, Moore (Beresford 26), Acklam, Smith, Elliott (Lovell 65).
Westfields: Algio, Corner, Davies, Rowley, Dzioba, Griffin, Tabb, Higgins, Gurney, B Powell, Davidson. Subs not used: Williams, P Powell.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Brian Beresford.
Referee: M Carrington (Shepshed).
Attendance: 270
