Oldswinford vs Gresley Rovers
Smith doubles at the Dell – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers imposed their class on battling Oldswinford to eventually run out comfortable winners at the Dell Stadium on Saturday.
After suffering two early setbacks – going behind after two minutes and losing striker Carl Rathbone with a leg injury after 26. Gresley bounced back after the break to wrap up the points with second half goals from top scorer Paul Acklam – his 18th of the season – Jason Minton and two from Kieron Smith.
First, though, they had to weather a storm from an Oldswinford side clearly fired up for the occasion by former Wolves boss Sammy Chung.
Gresley were not given time to settle after Andy Hodges – newly recruited from Nuneaton Borough – stroked the home side ahead after exploiting a glaring gap in the centre of the visitors’ defence.
The home side worked like fury to defend their lead, although Rathbone seemed unfortunate to be denied a penalty when he went down under Phil Cartwright’s challenge after bursting clear onto John Barry’s pass.
Acklam skipped past the keeper only for Paul Tomlinson to boot clear, Smith twice headed just over and Richard Denby stung Chris Williams’ fingers with a 25-yard drive, yet it took a superb goal-line stop by Bob Aston to deny Hodges his second from Alan Cook’s right wing cross.
The pace was sure to tell on Oldswinford and so it proved. Denby began their undoing with a skilful run into the penalty area, crossing from the left for Acklam to head home at the far post.
Then the increasingly impressive Milton ranged forward to force home Ryan Venning’s cross from close range.
Acklam had a header disallowed for pushing then thumped a meaty drive against a post before ‘Swinford gained their second wind, Aston denying Hodges after a ridiculous 40-yard backpass by Venning then blocking Lee Booth’s effort after Gresley had lost two headers in the penalty area.
Smith calmed the nerves when he exploited another careless backpass – this one from Matt Green, then putting the icing on the cake by tapping in Acklam’s right wing cross in the final minutes.
Oldswinford (1) 1
Gresley Rovers (0) 4
Scorers: Hodges 2 (Oldswinford); Acklam 49, Minton 59, Smith 84, 90 (Gresley Rovers).
Oldswinford: C Williams, Butler, B Williams, Tomlinson, Cartwright, Green, Marsh (Probert 65), Cook, Hodges, Booth, Sprotson. Sub not used: Millership.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Barry, Nutall, Denby, Evans, Minton, Weston, Rathbone (Venning 26), Acklam, Smith, Wardle. Sub not used: Land.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Jason Minton.
Referee: K Sproston (Stafford).
Attendance: 80
