Ilkeston Town vs Gresley Rovers
Bezza too cool for Burns – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Gresley boss Frank Northwood launched an outspoken attack on former Scotland and Nottingham Forest defender Kenny Burns at Ilkeston on Saturday.
The veteran supremo said after his team’s 2-0 win: “Burns was a disgrace – he should have been sent off. I just can’t understand how an international player like him can go out on the park and just kick people.”
Northwood was particularly incensed at the treatment meted out to striker Brian Beresford.
The veteran goal-grabber certainly took some stick – or rather, some boot – from Burns. But he had the last laugh when he scored Rovers’ first goal with an inch-perfect shot, then laid on the second after Burns, a balding and overweight parody of a once great performer, had shuffled ignominiously from the fray.
Watched by a crowd boosted by an unwelcome and highly unsavoury element who would presumably have been at some grander venue had there been a First Division programme on Saturday, Rovers took the best their former title rivals could throw at them before clinching the points with two classic strikes.
After a first half flashpoint in which Ilkeston claimed they were denied a penalty after a clash between Gresley keeper Bob Aston and striker Dave King, Rovers began to rule the proceedings with some measured approach play.
And when the Ilkeston defence recklessly allowed Beresford a sight of goal just before the interval, Rovers’ supreme goal-getter added to his vast tally with a low shot perfectly placed to be Cameron Miles’ dive.
Town turned up the heat after the break and Aston made a crucial early save from Tony Kidd’s blistering angled drive. It seemed the home side must eventually find a way through but, after a delay caused by the yob element hurling coins at a linesman, Rovers sealed the points.
Substitute Scott Elliott, back after illness and looking sharp, hit a firmly driven cross from the left and when Beresford, lurking with intent at the far post, headed against the woodwork Andy Moore stole in gleefully net the rebound.
Said Northwood: “I may have left a few players out today but I expected to win. I told the boys our side was strong enough to beat Ilkeston and I wasn’t kidding. We were very patient and defended well.”
Ilkeston Town (0) 0
Gresley Rovers (1) 2
Scorers: Beresford 44, Moore 82.
Ilkeston Town: Miles, Markham, Beavon, Baker, Charlesworth, Burns (Lyons 77), Finch (Brookes 63), Aldridge, Kidd, King, Tathan.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Bottomley, Dick, Stokes, Land, Page, Weston, Jackson (Elliott 70), Astley, Beresford, A Moore. Sub not used: Barry.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Brian Beresford.
Referee: G Singh (Wolverhampton).
Attendance: 820
