Gresley Rovers vs Leicester United
Moore stems the flow – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Gresley boss Frank Northwood gave his busy first team a break and turned out virtually a complete reserve side for last night’s Evans Halshaw Floodlit Cup game at the Moat Ground.
But they proved no match for a fluent and eager Leicester outfit that included seven players on first team duty the previous Saturday.
Even the dismissal of United’s Carl Heggs for foul and abusive language after 25 minutes could not tip the balance in Rovers’ direction and in the end they had keeper Tony Moore to thank for keeping the score down to respectable proportions.
The game – part of a competition Gresley wish they had never entered in the light of their successes elsewhere this season – was not a waste of time.
It gave defenders Martin Dick and John Bottomley the opportunity to continue their rehabilitation after long injury lay-offs and also gave Northwood the chance to run his eye over trialist Tim Kidsley.
The pacy youngster was prominent on the left wing in the opening half, ballooning one chance high over the bar then setting up Gavin Thornley to repeat the feat with a header.
Kidsley’s opposite number Stuart Bond showed how to find the net on 27 minutes. From the left touchline level with the 18 yard line he fired in a wickedly swerving volley that beat Moore at the far post.
Kidsley failed to gain inspiration from the lesson, however. Set free by Russ Walton at the start of the second half he again sent the ball flying into orbit.
Minutes later Leicester scored their second when Gresley defender Bob Fisher failed to reach a Bond corner and Martin Dick headed the ball straight to Dave Tonge’s feet, leaving the highly rated striker with a simple finish from a couple of yards out.
Most of the action remained at Gresley’s territory with Moore producing a string of fine saves.
The introduction of Rovers’ substitutes Mick Haynes and John Webster provoked a brief flurry of pressure at the opposite end but United’s Ian Marsden was equal to their best effort, a corking 30-yards drive from Steve Astley that the veteran keeper expertly tipped round a post.
Gresley Rovers (0) 0
Leicester United (1) 2
Scorers: Bond 27, Tonge 55.
Gresley Rovers: T Moore, Walton, Dick, Thompson, Fisher, Astley, A Moore, Bottomley, Heap (Haynes 70), Thornley (Webster 70), Kidsley.
Leicester United: Marsden, Potter (Flanagan 69), Randall, Wilson, C Tonge, Shepherd, Heggs, Liquorice, D Tonge, Conway, Bond. Sub not used: Weafer.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Tony Moore.
Referee: B Rudkin (Belper).
Attendance: 150
