Westfields vs Gresley Rovers
Rovers hit right note - Andy Parker - Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers stepped halfway into the West Midlands League Cup final with an assured, combative performance, highlighted by two excellent second half goals, in Hereford last night.
The young Westfields side tried its best throughout to match the double-chasing league leaders, if not for skill, then for competitiveness. But, just has they had in Saturday's win over Blakenall, Rovers showed renewed depths of durability and will-to-win.
The home side's Darren Preece was booked as soon as the 10th minute for felling Scott Elliott in full flight but Rovers still made the early chances, Keiron Smith - at last looking near his best - curling a left-foot shot over Jarrod Clay well wide and the insistent Richard Wardle firing into Clay's ample frame when put through by Paul Acklam.
Teenage winger Alex Sykes reminded Gresley that the home side were capable of breaking away when he skipped clear to set up Brian Preece for a shot well saved, but Rovers, with Stuart Evans' textbook header somehow blocked on the line, reached the break ahead on points.
A breakthrough came with Gresley, having adjusted to playing against the wind and reassumed control, laying siege.
Neil Lovell robbed a defender on the left corner of the box and lifted a perfect chip over Clay.
Gil Land's header from a Richard Denby free kick deserved a goal only for Clay to save well again but Rovers gained the cushion of a two-goal lead when Scott Elliott's measured cross, again from the left, found Craig Weston with so much time and space at the far post that he was able to sidefoot home with nonchalant ease before the Westfields defence could twitch a muscle.
Westfields (0) 0
Gresley Rovers (0) 2
Scorers: Lovell 71, Weston 79.
Westfields: Clay, Corner (Wood 20), Rivett, Dzioba, Stevens, Higgins, Irvine (Bevan 90), Leigh, B Preece, D Preece, Sykes.
Gresley Rovers: Harrison, Barry, Elliott, Denby, Evans (Dick 45), Land, Weston, Smith, Acklam, Wardle, Lovell. Sub not used: Venning.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Keiron Smith.
Referee: C Wilks (Cheltenham).
Attendance: 135
