Gresley Rovers vs Tividale
Dodging the boots - Niall Hickman - Burton Mail
A sound, if largely unspectacular, performance by Gresley Rovers saw them stroll over their latest Banks's League Premier Division opponents at the Moat Ground last night.
Tividale came with the intention of kicking, often unfairly and on occasion brutally, and returned to the Black Country with precisely what they deserved.
Except for periodic excellence, Gresley seemed to be playing at something below their best, but one felt there was always another gear available it their opponents ever became threatening.
That they did not must be comforting to Moatmen boss Frank Northwood and stand in keeper Tony Moore who spent the night trying to devise ways of staying warm in the bitterly cold conditions.
Northwood was overjoyed with the three points which arrived more easily than he may have anticipated.
He said: "They were a bit physical, but never had any real ambition. Our lads played very satisfactorily and our supporters must understand that we cannot win every game by a hatful."
Paul Acklam gave Rovers a perfect start when he tapped home Smith's defected shot in the eighth minute.
In truth, from this premature moment, there was only going to be one team collecting the points.
Gresley poured forward in search of further reward, with new-boy Carl Rathbone causing concern from his pace and tenacity.
In the 21st minute a majestic 60-yard ball by Denby provided him with a run at goal. He made the bye-line but a good looking cross was not converted by three penalty box attackers.
Denby was using the ball effectively throughout the first half and one left-footed pass to Smith was remarkable.
Rovers should have extended their lead, but some good saves, especially from an Astley drive, and a fair dollop of good fortune kept the score down.
Just after the break Craig Weston missed a glaring opportunity in front of goal after Acklam's shot was deflected to his feet.
Weston made amends five minutes later when he skipped over a challenge and supplied an inch perfect lobbed cross onto Smith's head. The striker duly collected his 13th goal of the season.
Tividale struggled to mount any sort of challenge. The visitors did manage to gain some notoriety, but it was for a number of crude challenges which saw two of their number entering the referee's book. A figure which was probably rather lenient.
Gresley Rovers (1) 2
Tividale (0) 0
Scorers: Acklam 8, Smith 52.
Gresley Rovers: Moore, Barry, Elliott, Astley, Land, Weston (Adcock 57), Denby, Lovell, Acklam (Beresford 78), Rathbone, Smith.
Tividale: Yeomans, Bradley, Edwards, Sharpe, Lyness, Maund, Rich, Penfold, Dunkley, Bedford (Gain 80), Woodall (Campbell 57).
Gresley man-of-the-match: Carl Rathbone.
Referee: P Brookes (Stourbridge).
Attendance: 297
