Gresley Rovers vs Chasetown
Brian blasts double – Dave Hackett – Burton Mail
Brian Beresford struck twice in the final ten minutes to curtail a spirited second half fightback by visiting Chasetown as Gresley Rovers maintained their impressive start to the Banks’s League campaign at the Moat Ground last night.
The Moatmen, given an interval lead courtesy of two headed goals from Paul Acklam were so much in control during the first period that a scoreline comparable to Saturdays’ 5-0 drubbing of Westfields a distinct possibility.
Kieron Smith and Acklam had previously gone close prior to the centre forward opening his season’s account on 14 minutes.
Beresford headed Richard Denby’s right wing corner from beyond the far post and Acklam ghosted through on the blind side to plant a header into the top right hand corner.
Scott Elliott nearly let in Charlie Blakemore but almost atoned with a goal when his menacing cross-shot was clawed away by a fully stretched Steve Lowdes.
Denby, having provided openings for both Smith and Acklam, was the architect of Rovers’ second goal just before the interval when his right wing flag kick was headed powerfully downwards and into the net by Acklam.
A combination of Chasetown’s determination not to get over-run and Gresley’s complacency allowed the visitors to reduce the arrears in the 54th minute.
Blackmore picked out an unmarked Langston to comprehensively beat Bob Aston with a sweetly-struck shot into the roof of the net.
For the next 25 minutes a mixture of desperate defending and the brilliance of Aston kept the Moatmen’s slender lead intact.
Having thwarted Mick Ward by saving his header at the base of the right hand post, Aston produced a save he is unlikely to better all season in the 72nd minute.
Substitute Mick Boot headed Blackmore’s free kick back into the danger zone were Ward’s point blank range header had goal written all over it until the keeper pulled off an athletic reflex save to fingertip the ball to safety.
The importance of the save was soon realised. Neil Lovell supplied a lovely weighted cross, Acklam nodded the ball back inside for Beresford who simply had to chest it into the net from less than a yard.
Little more than a minute later Beresford’s superb ball sent Acklam scurrying goalwards but, as he attempted to cut into the box Chasetown skipper Trevor Jones brought him down.
Beresford put the issue beyond doubt when he sent Lowdes the wrong way from the spot.
Gresley Rovers (2) 4
Chasetown (0) 1
Scorers: Acklam 14, 43, Beresford 76, 78(pen) (Gresley Rovers); Langston 54 (Chasetown).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Barry, Dick, Denby, Land, Astley, Stokes, Smith, Acklam, Beresford, Elliott (Lovell 65). Sub not used: Maddocks.
Chasetown: Lowdes, Cox, Jones, Shelton, Richards, Ansell, Langston, Blackmore, Harrison (Boot 45), Ward, Dixon. Sub not used: Foster.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Richard Denby.
Referee: B D Priest (Halesowen).
Attendance: 427
