Oldswinford vs Gresley Rovers
Getting closer! – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers eased nearer to the Banks’s League title with a comfortable victory at the Dell Sports Stadium, Brierley Hill, last night.
Two first half goals by Paul Acklam and a classic second half finish by on-loan Brian Beresford gave the Moatmen – with four games in hand over second placed Wednesfield – a 15 point lead at the top of the Premier Division table with the finishing post coming into sight.
And with manager Frank Northwood believing that four victories from Rovers’ remaining 12 games will clinch the championship for the first time in the clubs’ history, Gresley know they are on the threshold of a marvellous achievement.
Only the strain of having to fit in 17 more games by the end of the season can prevent Rovers from hitting their ultimate target of the much coveted title.
A gruelling three-games-a-week schedule has already taken its toll with Kieron Smith, Carl Rathbone, Neil Lovell, Steve Adcock and Bob Aston all injured before last night’s game.
And there was a further blow to Gresley’s prospects when defender-cum-midfielder Scott Elliott limped off in the 80th minute with what Frank Northwood described as a “nasty ankle injury.”
No wonder Northwood is having to resort to bringing in players on loan – a policy that paid off against Darlaston, almost repeated the trick last night with a 10th-minute header cleared off the line.
But on 22 minutes his fellow guest raced clear after defender Lee Brassington missed a routine clearance, drew the keeper and set up Paul Acklam with an easy finish for his 22nd goal of the season.
Goal number 23 was not long in coming. Shortly after a Beresford header had been cleared off the line Stuart Stokes drove in a low centre from the left when a corner was only cleared and, when keeper Kieron Mountford failed to make the ball his, Acklam stabbed the ball home from close range.
Oldswinford gallantly took the game to Gresley in the second period, forcing Rovers to defend in depth, but stand-in keeper Tony Moore in excellent form the outcome remained in no doubt, particularly after substitute Craig Weston and Elliott conspired together to release Beresford on the left of the penalty area to complete the scoring with a venomous low drive.
Oldswinford (0) 0
Gresley Rovers (2) 3
Scorers: Acklam 32, 43, Beresford 76.
Oldswinford: Mountford, Probert, Whiston, Brassington, Potter, Shaw, Green (Marsh 75), Brookes, James, Waddington (Cris Weston 81), Blackham.
Gresley Rovers: T Moore, Barry, Dick, Denby, Land, Astley, Stokes (Craig Weston 73), Beresford, Acklam, Devaney, Elliott (A Moore 80).
Gresley man-of-the-match: Brian Beresford.
Referee: G Singh (Wolverhampton).
Attendance: 140
