Gresley Rovers vs Evesham United
Rovers in seventh heaven - Andy Parker - Burton Mail
If Gresley Rovers fans thought things couldn't get any better after their team's six straight wins to start the season, they reckoned without Saturday's Moat Ground beanfeast.
To the delight of the 658 crowd, Rovers brushed aside Evesham to storm to the top of the Beazer Midlands Division in a style that suggests talk of a genuine title challenge may not be just pie in the sky.
It's early days yet and Gresley have still to meet the likes of Sutton, Newport or Nuneaton. But, if Steve Dolby can persuade his team to continue playing with the enthusiasm and commitment that complements their ability to give such a heady brew as Saturday's, anything is possible.
Much may depend, too, on the Moatmen being able to hold on to the prodigious talents of Robbie Briscoe. The former Derby star was the outstanding performer in a glittering display, scoring twice and having a hand in two more goals, but his eye-catching ability is inevitably beginning to attract envious eyes.
It was Briscoe who put Rovers on their way to a memorable victory with a goal of quality. Richard Denby lofted a centre from wide on the left to the far post, Mike Taplin headed down and Briscoe arrived with perfect timing to fire an unstoppable half volley from 18 yards that flew just under the bar.
His post match assessment that "I just shut my eyes and hit it" belied a goal that may not be bettered all season in build-up nor finish.
But, while Briscoe may currently be the brightest jewel in Rovers' crown, he is far from being the only sparkler as Kieron Smith proved with a second classic goal, taking advantage of a back-pedalling Evesham defence to catch keeper Ian Gandy off his line with a shot into the top corner from 20 yards.
The visitors may have felt aggrieved at being two down at the interval, having initially matched their hosts for quality, but any hopes of a revival died with the referee's whistle for the restart still echoing around the ground. Briscoe burst into the penalty area, went down under a despairing tackle and Paul Acklam seized the loose ball to deliver the third great goal of afternoon with a rasping right foot shot.
Rovers were rampant and Acklam could soon have made it four from Briscoe's cross but Gandy pushed his 10-yard shot wide. The save made little difference for, minutes later, Bob Aston's monster kick cleared everyone on the ground except, inevitably, that man Briscoe, who fired home via a post.
Three minutes later it was 5-0, Smith sizzling down the right, Briscoe knocking back his deep cross and Acklam heading in from six yards.
Both Acklam and Briscoe were denied hat tricks by excellent saves while Evesham could not derive even the meanest crumb of comfort, Graham Jones hitting a great opportunity wide from six yards then seeing his blockbusting shot pushed over by Aston.
Gresley Rovers (2) 5
Evesham United (0) 0
Scorers: Briscoe 17, 65, Acklam 46, 68, Smith 25.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Barry, Briscoe, Denby, Evans, Land, Wardle (Swainston 55), Elliott, Smith, Acklam, Taplin (Weston 65).
Evesham United: Gandy, Hooman, Brown (Cotterill), Whittingham, Rivers, Jordan, Day, Jones, Rawle, Hallam, Emms (Pitcher 58).
Gresley man-of-the-match: Robbie Briscoe.
Referee: K A Woolmer (Kettering).
Attendance: 658
