Gresley Rovers vs Rushall Olympic
Off peak Rovers play it cool – Niall Hickman – Burton Mail
A less than convincing display by Gresley Rovers preserved their narrow lead at the top of the table in a game which lowly visitors Rushall Olympic dominated for lengthy periods.
But if champions are marked by their ability to win with under performing then Rovers, on this fortunate showing, should at last depart the Banks’s League for higher climes.
After a perfect start in which Denby smashed home from just inside the area thanks to a deep cross from Weston, Rovers looked set to carry on from their seven-goal midweek spree.
Rushall were on the receiving end of seven goals themselves last week, and Gresley poured forward in the opening exchanges eager to emulate their recent prowess in front of goal.
But gradually Olympic started to threaten until on the half-hour they gained their just reward. A teasing run by Morris, who left three Gresley defenders in his wake, ended with Deeley poking home the easiest of chances. It was a deserved equaliser by Rushall following near misses by Watkiss and Winwood.
Rovers hit back seven minutes later when Paul Acklam powerfully headed home a deep low cross by Lovell.
The stage was set for Gresley to notch up a win after 62 minutes, when Smith prodded in following a goal mouth scramble.
Only seconds before the visitors had cursed their luck when Deeley crashed a superb strike against the Rovers bar.
The rest of the match was a tale of Rushall’s ability to find the target as Rovers sat back on their advantage. To be fair, when Olympic’s accuracy was up to scratch they found Bob Aston in great form.
Ten minutes from time their day was summed up when a fine header by Winwood hit the post and trickled across the Rovers’ goal line to safety.
Gresley Rovers (2) 3
Rushall Olympic (1) 1
Scorers: Denby 4, Acklam 37, Smith 62 (Gresley Rovers); Deeley 37 (Rushall Olympic).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Barry, Stokes, Denby, Land, Astley, Weston (Moore 74), Smith, Acklam, Beresford (Maddocks 78), Lovell.
Rushall Olympic: Chandler, Perry, Collins, Dawson, Watkiss, Secker, Westwood, Badbury, Winwood, Morris, Deeley. Subs: Hammond, Jones.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Bob Aston.
Referee: A Black (Colbycott).
Attendance: 432
