Darlaston vs Gresley Rovers
Stevie Wonder – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Two goals from pint sized striker Steve Adcock salvaged Gresley Rovers a precious Banks’s League point at Darlaston last night – and left centre half Mick Rawlings looking the sickest man on the pitch.
At around 6ft 6ins the Walsall side’s centre half is one of the biggest defenders in the league while Adcock, a foot or so shorter, is one of the smallest attackers.
Yet Adcock was allowed to pop up in the six-yard box to twice head Gresley level with Darlaston’s much-vaunted air force left on the runway.
Adcock’s second strike, after Gil Land had headed back a corner from substitute Andy Moore, came with just five minutes left to cap a late revival after Darlaston had dominated much of the second half on a heavily sloping pitch.
Darlaston, going uphill in the first half, got off to a flying start when Peter Shone probed Gresley’s left flank and set up Simon Turpin’s cross into the penalty area that Neil Hesson despatched into the roof of the net with a superb first time shot.
Gresley responded by taking control of the game, carving out a string of chances before Paul Acklam knocked down Craig Weston’s corner and Adcock headed past Fred Whitehouse from six yards.
On-loan Brian Beresford and skipper Richard Denby both went close to giving Gresley the lead and when half time arrived the visitors looked set for another victory.
But Darlaston bounced back to dominate the second half and after Rovers full back Martin Dick had been carried off with a knee injury Turpin’s cross from the right was allowed to travel all the way through a crowded box to the far post, where full back Phil Wood despatched a low drive.
Northwood introduced substitutes Stuart Stokes and Moore to spark a late rally and, after Adcock’s second equaliser, the two combined to set up Acklam for a header that came back off the crossbar. Then Stokes fired in a meaty 22-yard drive that forced Whitehouse into a superb save.
Darlaston (1) 2
Gresley Rovers (1) 2
Scorers: Hesson 3, Wood 63 (Darlaston), Adcock 18, 85 (Gresley Rovers).
Darlaston: Whitehouse, Wood, Hughes, Bates, Rawlins, Stone, Frain, Turpin, Priest, Hesson, Walters. Subs not used: Burgess, Mead.
Gresley Rovers: T Moore, Barry, Dick (Stokes 63), Denby, Land, Astley, Weston (A Moore 82), Adcock, Acklam, Beresford, Elliott.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Steve Adcock.
Refree: M J Brandwood (Lichfield).
Attendance: 310
