Borrowash Victoria vs Gresley Rovers
First blood to Rovers – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers survived an early onslaught from Borrowash – and a half time tongue lashing from coach Steve Dolby – before establishing a comfortable 2-0 lead in the first leg of the Derbyshire Senior Cup final at the Asterdale Bowl last night.
After seeing only a string of heroic saves by keeper Bob Aston save Rovers from first half humiliation against the Central Midlands League strugglers Dolby stormed: “They deserved yelling at – for the first 25 minutes they were bordering on disgraceful. They never won a tackle and they never won a challenge – Bob kept us in the game with three absolutely brilliant saves.
“They needed reminding that they were playing for the Derbyshire Senior Cup, which they’ve won three times, and they needed to play with a bit of pride.
“To their credit, they came out in the second half and put in an excellent performance.”
Borrowash hardly got a look in as Rovers stole goals through Paul Acklam and Kieron Smith - the 30th of the season for both players – after the break to ultimately run out comfortable winners.
Yet how different it could have been had Aston not chosen the occasion to provide another reminder of his enduring class.
Borrowash rang alarm bells in the Gresley defence from the second minute when Viv Rayson beat Gil Land on the left of the Rovers box and crossed for Sean Ride to fire in a first time effort that came back off a defender.
Then Rayson rose to head a John Bookbinder cross powerfully goalwards but the ball stuck safely in Aston’s gloves.
It took Rovers 16 minutes to muster their first attack of note, Acklam putting the ball wide of the far post after Smith headed on Steve Adcock’s cross.
But Vics hit back with a swerving volley by Neil Danvers that Aston clutched magnificently in the top corner and another Rayson header that the keeper smothered right on the goalline.
Dolby’s half time blasting certainly had its effect, however. For after Borrowash had started with a flurry of attacking they were forced back on their heels as Rovers took a grip on the game.
Adcock began to torment the home side’s right flank and was twice sent sprawling by fouls near the edge of the penalty area.
From the second of these, Craig Weston fired in a low cross that Steve Rimmington could not hold and Acklam flashed in to whip home the loose ball.
Ten minutes later Borrowash failed to clear a massive Aston kick, Acklam headed the ball goalwards and, as a defender dithered, Smith and Carl Rathbone bore down on the Vics goal with Smith getting the vital finishing touch that sent the ball spinning past Rimmington.
The home side’s early zest had now all but evaporated and the game became a procession towards Rimmington’s goal, although there was still time for Danvers to try a first time effort that Aston contemptuously plucked from the air to complete a memorable performance.
Borrowash Victoria (0) 0
Gresley Rovers (0) 2
Scorers: Acklam 58, Smith 68.
Borrowash Victoria: Rimmington, Greaves, Brown, Meek, Spooner, Danvers, Foulds, Grostate, Ride, Rayson, Bookbinder. Subs not used: Smith, King.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Barry, Stokes, Denby, Land, Astley, Weston, Smith, Acklam, Rathbone, Adcock. Subs not used: Lovell, Dick.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Bob Aston.
Referee: D Robinson (Duffield).
Attendance: 700
