Bridgnorth Town vs Gresley Rovers
Tony the Rovers tiger - Andy Parker - Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers lined the style that won them two West Midlands League titles with a new steel to impressively destroy their latest Beazer Midland Division opponents at Crown Meadow last night.
Inspired by a dominant midfield performance from Tony Marsden - the former Grantham skipper who looks a superb capture for Moat boss Steve Dolby - Rovers shrugged off profligate first half form to produce a memorable finish.
In charge from the kick off, they conspired to miss a string of openings before Bridgnorth controversially took the lead with their only real attack of the half.
But after pulling level in first half injury time, Gresley turned the heat on their hosts after the break with a display that delighted a small army of travelling fans.
Paul Acklam rose from the bench to grab a brace but it was the performance of Rovers' other two-goal star, Marsden that really caught the eye.
With skipper Richard Denby and Richard Wardle he formed a midfield triumvirate that was too powerful and inventive for an eager but unimaginative Town.
Mick Taplin and Wardle both missed gilt-edged chances and the luckless Martin Devaney was twice denied by the excellence of home keeper Carl Whitehouse before Marsden finally sparked his team's triumph by forcing home John Barry's excellent through ball.
Bridgnorth had gone ahead from a corner after the muscular Shaun Gilman's shot appeared to fly over the bar without Bob Aston getting a touch, Steve Warrilow nodding the ball over the line after Dale Jones headed back Ian Clarke's flag kick.
But Marsden's equaliser came with perfect timing to set up an impressive second half showing.
The midfielder's determined run down the left won Rovers a free kick and Denby flighted the ball perfectly for substitute Acklam to make his mark after just five minutes on the field.
Then Barry supplied two devastating crosses. Marsden headed in the first from point blank and Acklam glanced in the second for Rovers' fourth in injury time.
Bridgnorth Town (1) 1
Gresley Rovers (1) 4
Scorers: Warrilow 33 (Bridgnorth Town); Marsden 45, 81, Acklam 66, 92 (Gresley Rovers).
Bridgnorth Town: Whitehouse, Beddow, Hammond, Duncombe, Ball (McAuley 41), Warrilow, Chambers, Jones, Gilman, Comerford (Wilding 73), Clarke.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Barry, Briscoe, Denby, Evans, Land, Wardle, Marsden, Smith, Taplin (Acklam 61), Devaney (Dick 81).
Gresley Rovers man-of-the-match: Tony Marsden.
Referee: S W Baylis (West Bromwich).
Attendance: 225
