Gresley Rovers vs Darlaston
‘Old boy shows the way – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Gresley old boy Martin Devaney returned to the Moat Ground last night to fire Rovers three points nearer to the Banks’s League title.
Two clinically taken first half goals from the on-loan Tamworth striker broke the back of a rugged yet dangerous Darlaston whose poor finishing deprived them of any reward against the runaway league leaders.
Rovers boss Frank Northwood said afterwards: “The crowd of 801 was terrific – I just wish we could have turned on a bit of a show for them. But considering we played much of the game at half pace and without our three main front-runners I thought we did well and, of course, I’m very happy with three more points.
“The lad I brought in on loan did very well for us, but I wasn’t pleased with our defensive performance – it could have been 9-8!”
There was a strong scent of goals around the Moat Ground from the second minute when Devaney released Steve Adcock with a sweeping ball to the right wing then arrived at the far post to head in the winger’s cross from close range after giant centre back Mick Rawlins had seemed favourite to clear.
Rawlins soon made his mark at the other end, however, picking his spot with a far post header from Damian Kearn’s right wing corner.
Darlaston looked sharp and incisive at this stage and it took a superb save by Bob Aston to deny the speedy Neil Hesson after another Moat old boy Reg Priest, had beaten Gil Land to head on a long goal kick. Wesson forced the ball past John Barry and fired low and hard for the bottom corner from 16 yards but Aston palmed the ball over the bar.
Rovers reply was to retake the lead – but at considerable cost.
Land knocked the ball forward for Kieron Smith to chase and Rovers’ top scorer was flattened by keeper Fred Whitehouse as he ran clear into the box. It looked a clear penalty but referee Roderick instead allowed Devaney to coolly fire past a defender on the line.
Rovers were producing their best football of the game at this stage and after Stuart Stokes’ fine run and cross the ball was cleared off Steve Adcock’s toes as far as Richard Denby whose thunderous volley was magnificently tipped over by Whitehouse.
Priest gave Gresley another scare with a shot from the right of the box that squirmed wide of the far post as Rovers, understandably in their third game in five days, began to fade.
Stokes finally calmed home nerves by robbing a defender on the right and firing in a low drive that Whitehouse failed to hold, allowing Adcock to follow up and slip the ball home from close range.
Steve Astley fired inches over and Gresley were denied a penalty when Adcock was felled in the box.
The final quarter, though, belonged to the visitors and, after Priest had the ball cleared off his toes after a brilliant run through the Gresley defence, Stokes dropped a back pass short only for Hesson to fire into the side netting with the goal gaping.
Gresley Rovers (2) 3
Darlaston (1) 1
Scorers: Devaney 2, 33, Adcock 63 (Gresley Rovers); Rawlins 10 (Darlaston).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Barry, Elliott, Denby, Land, Astley, Stokes, Smith (Weston 40), Adcock, Devaney, Lovell. Sub not used: Dick.
Darlaston: Whitehouse, Wood, Bayley, Bates, Rawlins, Stone, Kearns, Turpin, Priest, Hesson, Hughes (Hughes 78). Sub not used: Mead.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Martin Devaney.
Referee: G K Roderick (Castle Bromwich).
Attendance: 801
