Gresley Rovers vs Wednesfield
Rovers cash in on back luck – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
The story of Saturday afternoon at the Moat Ground was summed up in one crucial second half moment.
A flowing, end-to-end move saw sweeper Steve Astley bursting into the penalty area, keeper Dave Jenkinson racing out to block at Astley’s feet and defender Nigel Thurstans, following up, turning the ball gently into his own net to give Gresley a conclusive third goal.
That epitomised Gresley’s skill and willingness to have a go – and Wednesfield’s wretched ill fortune.
The Black Country side in fact gave Gresley as good as they got for long periods, particularly in the second half when they produced the sort of possession football more usually associated with the home side.
By that time, though, Gresley had established a two-goal lead and were content to sit back and wait their chances.
It had been a different story earlier on, with the league leaders putting their visitors’ defensive credentials to the test – and finding them wanting.
Wednesfield were forced to defend frantically at times and there was a sense of inevitability about Craig Weston’s opening goal – his first for the club.
First Brian Beresford then Kieron Smith and finally Paul Acklam helped on a huge kick from Bob Aston and as the ball flowed from left to right Weston arrived to beat a defender and fire home a sizzling low shot.
Darren Bradburn tested Aston’s reflexes with one header, then put another wide as Wednesfield sought an equaliser, but Gresley might have added another soon after if Jenkins had not raced from his area to beat Kieron Smith to Richard Denby’s superb through ball. Alas for the keeper, he handled in the process and was duly booked.
Neil Lovell gave the scoreline a more comfortable look on 39 minutes with a rising right foot shot from 12 yards after Acklam’s drive had been turned into his path by a defender’s despairing boot.
Late in the second half substitute Dave Wood issued a reminder that no Rovers’ striker can be sure of his shirt with a pacey performance that kept the threat of goals a real one right until the final whistle.
Gresley Rovers (2) 3
Wednesfield (0) 0
Scorers: Weston 13, Lovell 39, Thurstans (og) 71.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Barry, Elliott, Denby, Land, Astley, Weston, Smith, Acklam (Wood 71), Beresford, Lovell. Sub not used: Page.
Wednesfield: Jenkins, Icke, Lowe (Bestall 71), Thurstans, Perry, Wilde, Bellingham, Bradburn, Moore, Rowley (Ramsbottom 57), Jones.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Richard Denby
Referee: R Griffin (Dudley).
Attendance: 329
