Gresley Rovers vs Westfields
Closing in on Double – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers stayed on course for a West Midlands League and Cup double with a sparkling display at a rain-swept Moat Ground last night.
Hereford-based Westfields must have feared their long trip north would be in vain after Rovers took a semi-final first leg lead three weeks ago. Those fears were soon justified.
Rovers took to the conditions like the proverbial ducks to water to lay siege to their guests’ goal.
Shots rained in as they sought the early breakthrough manager Steve Dolby had predicted would end the tie as a contest, and midfielder Richard Wardle was soon agonisingly close to scoring his first goal for the club, keeper Steve Green clawing out his 16-yard half volley.
Skipper Richard Denby fired a couple of efforts just off target but, with 15 minutes gone, the midfielder found his range – with devastating effect.
Kieron Smith gave chase to keeper Simon Harrison’s long kick, crossed for Paul Acklam to lay the ball back into his captain’s path and Denby steered a curling shot round Green’s reach from 18 yards.
Craig Weston helped himself to the second goal, blasting home from close range after the beleaguered Green failed to hold John Barry’s cross.
The keeper partly atoned for his boob with a superb save from Acklam’s first time effort then did well again to beat out Steve Astley’s 18-yard howitzer.
Gresley went slightly off the boil after the break, allowing Westfields a rare glimpse of goal, but Harrison denied any consolation with excellent save from Chris Leigh and Gary Stevens.
It stirred Rovers into action and Denby potted his second of the night – and only his fourth of the season – when he shot past the unsighted Green after substitute Ryan Venning, Weston and Smith had done the spadework.
Gresley Rovers (2) 3
Westfields (0) 0
Gresley win 5-0 on aggregate
Scorers: Denby 15,74, Weston 31.
Gresley Rovers: Harrison, Barry, Elliott, Denby, Land (Dick 75), Astley, Wardle, Smith, Acklam, Weston, Lovell (Venning 54).
Westfields: Green, D Preece, Rivett, Dzioba, Irvine, Higgins (Owen 62), Tabb (Price 55), Clark, Leigh, B Preece, Stevens.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Richard Denby.
Referee: G K Roderick (Castle Bromwich).
Attendance: 411
