Gresley Rovers vs Malvern Town
Rovers hit the ton target – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Ton-up Gresley reached a double milestone in front of another excellent crowd at the Moat Ground last night.
With 500 fans lined up for what was little more than a meaningless end-of-season affair, slow-starting Rovers eventually clicked into something approaching top gear in the second half to sweep aside a poor Malvern outfit and reach 100 league points for first time in the club's history.
The statistic brought a swell of pride to manager Frank Northwood who must be becoming accustomed to breaking new ground in an epoch-making season.
''It's nice to get 100 points,'' he said afterwards. ''If you look through all the other non-league tables I don't think you'll find many other clubs who have done that this season - in fact, I think we might be only one in the country.
“We’ve had another good gate tonight and I’m pleased the lads got the goals for them.”
Rovers had already burst through the 100-goal barrier, although there were times in the first half when the uninitiated observer might have wondered how.
Gresley, in total control from the off, created – and missed – opening after opening in the first half before finally achieving a breakthrough two minutes from the interval.
Steve Astley was the creator with a firmly driven shot from 25-yards that keeper David Starkey blocked but could not hold and Acklam showed all his predatory instincts to nip in and sweep the ball into an empty net.
Rovers introduced former skipper Dean Page as a second half replacement for Martin Dick and the stylish defender soon had the crowd buzzing with a phenomenal first time effort from outside the penalty area that whistled inches past the top corner. If it had gone in, it would have been a serious contender for goal of the season.
Former Burton Albion midfielder Ryan Venning then became the second substitute to catch the crowd’s eye, coming on to make an instant impression and almost getting on the scoresheet with a firmly hit drive that Starkey did extremely well to claw out of the top corner.
Instead Venning became a creator with an excellent crossfield pass to release Brian Beresford on the right and the veteran goal-grabber bided his time before setting up Acklam for a close-range shot, Carl Rathbone netting the rebound after a defender cleared off the line.
Acklam claimed the third when Craig Weston’s low free kick from the left went right through the Malvern back line then coolly completed his hat trick when a huge Bob Aston kick released Beresford.
Gresley Rovers (1) 4
Malvern Town (0) 0
Scorers: Acklam 43, 72, 82, Rathbone 69.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Dick (Page 45), Stokes, Denby, Land, Astley, Weston, Beresford, Acklam, Rathbone, Lovell (Venning 60).
Malvern Town: Starkey, Chambers, Badger, Maitland, Barry, Kenward, Lince, Manley, Hobbie, Gravenall (Blenkinsop 68), Wallis. Sub not used: Moss.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Paul Acklam.
Referee: M Warren (Walsall).
Attendance: 498
