Mickleover RBL vs Gresley Rovers
Moatmen wonder ‘why all the fuss’ – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Rovers were expecting a tough Derbyshire Senior Cup examination at Mickleover – but it never happened.
In the event Gresley moved comfortably towards their fourth successive final appearance in a game that failed to live up to its billing.
The home side were never allowed to settle as Rovers grabbed the tie by the scruff of the neck from the off.
Only after goals by Carl Rathbone and Stuart Stokes had put the visitors two goals ahead by the 47th minute did Mickleover produce anything like a threatening move but it was Gesley who scored again, through Paul Acklam on 66 minutes, to seal victory.
Three corners in the first three minutes gave an indication of Gresley’s game plan and the only surprising thing about Rathbone’s opener was that it took 23 minutes to arrive.
Dave Mann had already cleared an Acklam header off the line for Mickleover but there was no defender within spitting distance as the former Tamworth man tucked home the loose ball following Kieron Smith’s bicycle kick against the crossbar.
Acklam and Rathbone both fired close to the target and Stokes ballooned an extravagant volley over as the home side were forced to defend in depth.
RBL might have felt let off somewhat by a 1-0 interval scoreline but with the second half only two minutes old Smith left wing run and cross opened the way for Stokes to first shoot against the foot of the far post then, perhaps unwittingly, net the rebound.
Home skipper John Kinane put a header just off target then forced Tony Moore to make his only real save of the game as RBL tried to summon up a response but on 66 minutes keeper Daryl Beeston fumbled another Smith cross – this time after a run down the right – and Acklam powered in a close range header.
Mickleover RBL (0) 0
Gresley Rovers (1) 3
Scorers: Rathbone 23, Stokes 47, Acklam 66.
Mickleover RBL: Beeston, Clark (Fisher 50), Straw, Kean, Mann, Harris (Bradley 85), Kinane, Wall, Birtwhistle, Taplin, Brown.
Gresley Rovers: Moore, Barry, Elliott, Denby. Land, Astley, Stokes (Weston 66), Smith, Acklam, Rathbone, Lovell (Christopher 72).
Gresley man-of-the-match: Kieron Smith.
Referee: W Evans (Chesterfield).
Attendance: 350
