Wednesfield vs Gresley Rovers
Rovers closest rivals dumped – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Gresley’s march towards the Banks’s League title quickened in pace after a comprehensive win over second-placed Wednesfield on Saturday.
Rovers are as yet, quite wisely, declining to talk in terms of the championship, knowing from bitter experience that a big lead at the top of the table can disappear in a few weeks.
Yet Saturday’s win was accomplished in such fluent style that it is hard to see anyone who could pose a threat to Gresley’s supremacy now – especially as Rovers’ title rivals continue to drop points.
Wednesfield, unbeaten in 1991, as Rovers, confident and organised, mastered not only their hosts but a tricky wind and a bog-standard playing surface.
The home side were gradually worn down, with former Moatman Ian Wells ineffective, as Gresley carved out a strong of chances in the opening quarter of the game.
Brian Beresford flicked the ball past keeper Chris Lunn after Andy Moore had split the defence, only for a defender to hack the ball away with the goal gaping, then Steve Adcock’s twinkling run into the penalty area almost set up veteran striker again.
Gil Land headed a Richard Denby corner against the outside of a post, then Moore fired straight at Lunn as Gresley looked increasingly likely to break the deadlock.
Finally, the ever predatory Beresford seized onto a slightly underhit back pass by Darren Bradburn, nicking the ball off Lunn and unselfishly squaring for Paul Acklam to blast home from close range on the stroke of half time.
Beresford was again involved when Gresley effectively finished the match on 58 minutes, neatly dummying John Barry’s sweeping cross from the right and enabling Moore to crack home a sweetly delivered drive from the corner of the penalty area.
Wednesfield (0) 0
Gresley Rovers (1) 2
Scorers: Acklam 45, Moore 58.
Wednesfield: Lunn, Haynes, Bradburn, Rowley, Perry, Bestall, Jones, Morgan, P Moore, Wells, Bullock. Subs not used: Horton, Muir.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Barry, Elliott, Denby, Land, Astley, Stokes, Adcock (Bottomley 86), Acklam (Weston 75), Beresford, A Moore.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Brian Beresford.
Referee: K G B Sproston (Stafford).
Attendance: 250
