Gresley Rovers vs Hinckley Athletic
Late show sparks Rovers’ party – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Gresley celebrated their title triumph with a late flourish at the Moat Ground yesterday.
Two goals in the final two minutes finally brought a comprehensive but rarely exciting victory to life.
It put the bank holiday crowd in a party mood as Gresley skipper Richard Denby received the West Midlands League Premier Division championship shield from League president Bob Juggins.
Earlier, the venerable Mr Juggins had looked on as Rovers took time to wear down their Leicestershire rivals.
Indeed, the visitors might have taken the lead if goalkeeper Simon Harrison had not produced a smart save to deny Andy Potts after 13 minutes.
Rovers, with youth team player Chris Parkins replacing the injured Paul Acklam, looked lightweight in attack but finally achieved a breakthrough when Ryan Venning – hardly the tallest player on view – arrived with perfect timing to meet Denby’s cross and send a bullet header past keeper Mick Goodman.
Harrison dived to his left to brilliantly keep out Andy Hill’s header and deny Hinckley an equaliser before Kieron Smith was given space to turn in the penalty area and thump home Gresley’s second.
Then, substitute Steve Astley made the most of a dithering defence to round Goodman for the third in injury time.
Gresley Rovers (0) 3
Hinckley Athletic (0) 0
Scorers: Venning 51, Smith 88, Astley 90.
Gresley Rovers: Harrison, Barry, Dick, Denby, Land, Minton, Wardle, Smith, Parkins (Astley 73), Weston, Venning (Elliott 73).
Hinckley Athletic: Goodman, Markham, R Orton, Moore, Stanborough, M Orton, Shackleton (Potter 69), Stinger, Potts, Payne, Hill. Sub not used: Williamson.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Simon Harrison.
Referee: C Wilks (Gloucester).
Attendance: 462
