Gresley Rovers vs Swansea City
Rovers all at sea - Andy Parker - Burton Mail
Gresley were looking for a test of their fitness and organisation from Third Division Swansea at the Moat Ground on Saturday - but instead got a sharp lesson in both.
Swansea's full first team, fresh from a training camp at Keele University, were worlds apart from Rovers but Moat boss Steve Dolby insisted he had no regrets about exposing his Beazer League fledglings against a squad of professionals all ravenous for first team places.
"It's a shame we had so many players unavailable but I don't think that would have made a difference to the result. It would just have done them good to see the movement and the passing and the sort of standards we're trying to reach."
If Dolby was looking for a glimmer of encouragement from his team's performance he would probably have found it wearing the number nine shirt.
Teenage prodigy Chris Parkins was Rovers' only success despite ploughing a lone furrow up front for much of the game. His pace and control more than once threatened to embarrass City's uncompromising defence and he came closest to a goal after a second half run that ended with a shot into the side netting.
By that time Swansea had displayed a full range of attacking skills, running up a six-goal lead by the interval with a spectacular header from former Burton Albion favourite Des Lyttle the pick of the bunch.
Rovers worked like tigers to keep the score down after the break while City were content to keep control without pouring undue humiliation on their hosts.
Gresley Rovers (0) 0
Swansea City (6) 8
Scorers: McFarlane 16, Pascoe 25, Lyttle 33, Harris 35, Legge 44, McMahon 45, Evans (og) 66, Coughlin 74 (pen).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Barry, Elliott, Dick, Evans, Land, Weston, Read, Parkin, Beresford, Lovell. Subs Birch, Lonergan.
Swansea City: Freestone, Lyttle, Walker, Ford, McMahon, Harris, Bowan, McFarlane, Coughlin, Legge, Pascoe. Subs: Chapple, Jenkins, Barnhouse, Coates.
Refree: R Davies (Overseal).
Attendance: 280
