Gresley Rovers vs Willenhall Town
Rovers on early blitz – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Gresley put the skids under highflying Willenhall in double quick time at a wet, wild and windy Moat Ground on Saturday.
The Black Country side came to South Derbyshire with an unbeaten run stretching back over an impressive nine West Midlands League game.
But they were still admiring the view as Rovers romped to a two-goal lead inside the opening 10 minutes.
The first came after keeper Duncan Turk palmed a Brian Beresford corner back into play at the far post when the ball appeared to be going harmlessly for a goal kick.
It proved a costly error because, when Jason Minton chipped the ball back in, panicking defender Pete Smith could clear only as far as Beresford whose driven low cross was smacked home off a post by Carl Rathbone.
That was just the start Rovers needed but things got even better within two minutes.
Paul Acklam skilfully turned past a defender on the right of the penalty area and the hapless Turk could only palm his cross to the feet of Beresford, standing virtually on the line. The outcome was entirely predictable.
Willenhall were reeling as Rovers consolidated their bright start by dominating possession in increasingly difficult conditions, and a third goal duly arrived when former Stapenhill defender Rob Trow, under pressure from Acklam, handled in the penalty area and Beresford scored from the spot.
That was that for goals as Willenhall, a blasting wind behind them in the second half, came more into the game after the break.
Indeed, winger Graham Wark twice had chances to reduce the deficit, but first blasted over from close range than saw a header, delicately guided towards the top of the net, saved superbly by the stretching Aston’s fingertips.
Gresley Rovers (3) 3
Willenhall Town (0) 0
Scorers: Rathbone 7, Beresford 9, 26 (pen)
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Barry, Nuttall, Denby, Evans, Minton, Weston, Rathbone (K Smith), Acklam, Beresford, Lovell. Sub not used: Land.
Willenhall Town: Turk, N Harrison, Rowe, P Smith, Trow, Wainwright, Horne, Bell, Foster, Edwards, Wark. Subs not used. K Harrison, Poole.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Brian Beresford.
Referee: E Walsh (Birmingham).
Attendance: 354
