Rocester vs Gresley Rovers
Victory for Rocester – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
A classic Mick Collins hat trick illuminated an otherwise low-key conclusion to this season’s Banks’s League programme for Rocester and Gresley Rovers at the Riversfield last night.
Rovers, their minds on more pressing business at Borrowash tonight, included four debutants in their side with another four reserve team players making their Premier Division debuts, while Rocester fielded a near full-strength eleven.
The outcome, therefore, was never seriously in question: it was more a matter of how many goals the 148 crowd would see scored by the home side in what was the final Banks’s Premier Division fixture of the season.
Gresley, fielding three Tunnicliffe brothers from Sunday League side Hilton House, were determined to make a game of it, however, and almost shocked the home side in the 12th minute when Stuart Harrison, another Hilton-based debutant, burst into the penalty area shot past Mark Deaville only for Paul Ede to somehow deflect the ball over the bar.
The inevitable followed shortly when Collins headed Nigel Mottram’s cross against a post and Craig Walklet tapped in the rebound.
Six minutes from the break John Meyer’s pass from deep on the right fell perfectly for Collins to rifle home Rocester’s second, but Gresley then went close again, Deaville saving with his feet from Lee Bradley.
Controversy followed when Andy Damjanovic was sent off after a clash with Shane Riddell, but even with 10 men Rocester were too strong for Rovers’ rookies.
Collins fired home his second after a poor goal kick by Tony Moore then completed his hat trick with a far post header from Richard Owen’s right wing free kick with five minutes remaining.
Rocester (2) 4
Gresley Rovers (0) 0
Scorers: Walklet 15, Collins 39, 70, 85.
Rocester: Deaville, P Ede, Nixon, Owen, Damjanovic, Dodd, Mayer, Wood, Mottram, Collins, Walklet (M Ede 77 (Adcock 88)).
Gresley Rovers: Moore, K Tunnicliffe, Ganley (Land 77), S Tunniclffe, Simpson, Dick, Venning, Harrison (Walker 70), G Tunniclffe, Riddell, Bradley.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Martin Dick.
Referee: J E Biddle (Solihull).
Attendance: 148
