Gresley Rovers vs Paget Rangers
Rovers lack the killer punch – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers stretched their unbeaten run to 10 games in front of a bumper Moat Ground crowd last night but it was hardly a convincing victory.
Paget Rangers, the last side to beat Gresley in the league when they thumped them 3-0 back in November, survived an early onslaught to dominate a large period of the game and had only their own poor work in the last third of the field to blame for not stretching the champions more seriously.
Manager Frank Northwood felt his side were worthy winners, however, saying afterwards: “We stuck to our task well. We could have had four or five early on but then we let them back in it. But we deserved to win – and revenge is sweet.”
Rovers made their customary flying start with Carl Rathbone failing to capitalise on a good early cross from Craig Weston and defender Keith Matthews forcing a good save from his own keeper when he sliced John Barry’s cross in front of goal.
The breakthrough came on 19 minutes when Jason Minton’s perfectly weighted knock over the top of the Paget rearguard released Paul Acklam who calmly shot past Darren Clayton despite the attentions of a posse of back-pedalling defenders.
Acklam volleyed over then headed wastefully wide at the far post after great work by Brian Beresford but suddenly Paget were back in the game.
Paul Snowball hit a free kick from the right that looked to be safely Bob Aston’s but the Rovers keeper stayed rooted to his line as Dave Campbell came in to force the ball home.
That prompted a Paget purple patch that lasted well into the second half with Gresley living a charmed life at times.
But suddenly the home side emerged from their shell with Gil Land seeing a deflected shot tipped from under the bar then Rathbone having a close range effort equally well saved.
Beresford shot over from a good position then failed by a couple of inches to connect with a Weston cross before the deciding goal.
Substitute Neil Lovell did superbly well to win a corner when the ball was flying to safety and from Richard Denby’s flag kick Minton rose above the rest to steer a header just inside the post.
Gresley Rovers (1) 2
Paget Rangers (1) 1
Scorers: Acklam 19, Minton 81 (Gresley Rovers); Campbell 28 (Paget Rangers).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Barry, Dick (Lovell 56), Denby, Land, Minton, Weston, Rathbone, Acklam (Meyer 56), Beresford, Elliott.
Paget Rangers: Clayton, Williams, Snowball, Whittingham, Matthews (Darkes 28), Chawner, Paul (Jones 45), Burns, Miller, Christopher, Campbell.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Jason Minton.
Referee: R Lesserman (Worcester).
Attendance: 603
