Gresley Rovers vs Shepshed Charterhouse
New boys fire Gresley six shooters – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Remodelled Gresley gave 300 fans a six-shooting treat at a bitterly cold Moat Ground last night.
Manager Frank Northwood gave two players their debuts and didn’t have to wait long to be impressed.
Former Eccleshall and Bilston winger Clive Walker took less than two minutes to start the scoring while fellow debutant Gary Gamble added the second on 37 minutes.
Northwood was so pleased with Gamble’s performance he signed the former British Universaties centre forward onto Banks’s League forms straight after the match, saying: “He looked the part. And signing players like Gary gives us strength in depth when we need it.”
Gamble was prominent as Gresley defied a bone hard surface in a lively opening half. Shepshed played their part, with nippy winger Andy Beckford always dangerous, but it was Gresley who got the goals. Walker diving to bravely head a spectacular opener from Steve Adcock’s intercepting Mick Collins’ backpass to set up Gamble.
Adcock’s through ball put Derek Christopher through to round the keeper for Gresley’s third then John Barry thrashed in a fourth from the penalty spot after Gamble had been felled.
Substitute Lee Coombes briefly reduced the arrears with a wickedly curled free kick but Gresley responded with two more goals. Adcock converting the pick of the bunch after a sweeping move involving the impressive Stuart Stokes and Gamble and Steve Astley piledriving a sixth from outside the box.
There could and should have been even more as Richard Selby saved superbly from Adcock, Gamble and Kieron Smith but Shepshed had the last say when Beckford converted a Scott Machin cross from eight yards.
Gresley Rovers (3) 6
Shepshed Charterhouse (0) 2
Scorers: Walker 1, Gamble 37, Christopher 44, Barry (pen) 54, Adcock 65, Astley 66 (Gresley Rovers), Coombes 57, Beckford 75 (Shepshed Charterhouse).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Barry, Elliott (Lovell 45), Denby, Land, Astley, Walker, Christopher, Gamble (Smith 66), Adcock, Stokes.
Shepshed Charterhouse: Selby, Morley, Beazeley, Collins, Williamson, Hodkinson, Brown (Bunce 45), Littlejohn (Coombes 45), Machin, Gamble, Beckford.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Steve Adcock.
Referee: B L Polkey (Nottingham).
Attendance: 298
