Gresley Rovers vs Paget Rangers
Rovers’ goal tease – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
A 400-plus crowd feasted on a glut of goals at the Moat Ground on Saturday – but only after Gresley had made them wait over 50 minutes.
Only then were Paget – a pale shadow of the side that proved Rovers’ bogey last season – finally led to the slaughter.
Incredibly, in view of Rovers’ total domination of the game, Paget led from the 18th minute after their only real shot of the half gave them a goal.
John Hanson’s run was obstructed by Gil Land in the penalty area and when Gary Williams’ effort was blocked, Ramsey Douglas rammed in the loose ball.
Gresley had already missed a string of chances. But Acklam finally weighed in with his third goal in as many games when Scott Elliott lofted a left wing cross to the far post and the striker arrived to despatch a neat header.
Substitute Neil Lovell then burst through on the left and bashed a powerful shot past keeper John Heath.
Brian Beresford picked himself up after Jamie Harden’s trip to despatch the first of two penalties, Kieron Smith conjured up a spectacular bicycle kick for number four and substitute Dean Russell robbed Stuart Stokes of a deserved goal with a clip on the heels at the expense of another penalty, confidently converted by Beresford.
Dave Mulcahy argued the toss and became the third Paget player to be booked.
Gresley Rovers (0) 5
Paget Rangers (1) 1
Scorers: Acklam 51, Lovell 63, Beresford 73, 85 (both pens), Smith 81 (Gresley Rovers: Douglas 18 (Paget Rangers).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Barry, Dick (Lovell 25), Denby, Land, Astley, Stokes, Smith, Acklam (Maddocks 76), Beresford, Elliott.
Paget Rangers: Heath, Brown (Russell 70), Harden, Williams, Mulcahy, Hanson, Morse, Jones, Douglas, Dyer, Morgan (Jennings 85).
Gresley man-of-the-match: Richard Denby.
Referee: M A Cooper (Walsall).
Attendance: 402
