Gresley Rovers vs Redditch United
Gresley blow up a goal storm - Andy Parker - Burton Mail
Superb second half goals sparked another impressive victory for Gresley Rovers at the Moat Ground last night.
Once again Rovers found scoring form with the wind at their backs after spending the first half defending stoutly - and at times riding their luck - against a slick Redditch side who considered themselves served an injustice by the final scoreline.
Finishing proved the difference, though, for Rovers. Redditch, for all their polished passing play in a wind-assisted first half, could not breach Bob Aston's goal while Rovers conjured up a string of excellent strikes after the break.
Gresley were not without their good fortune, though, with Redditch full back Dave Mullholland seeing a full-blooded drive fly inches off the target in the 14th minute then firing a 25-yard shot against the bar in the 18th.
Rovers' best reply was a vicious Dave Swainston cross shot cleared from under the bar by United skipper Jimmy Williams but that provided only temporary respite for the home side.
Minutes later Justin Taylor burst past Gil Land to set himself up with a free run at goal and when Stuart Evans produced an impressive burst of pace and control to rob the Redditch striker with a perfectly timed tackle on the edge of the box, referee Dexter unjustly awarded the visitor's a free kick as Aston collected what he ludicrously deemed a back pass.
That set Redditch up a thumping free kick against Rovers' defensive wall by Paul Snowball and when Tony Donnelly seemed destined to score from the rebound Swainston cleared off the line.
Thus Redditch's first half chances were missed - and how Rovers made them pay after the turnaround.
Within five minutes of the resumption Martin Devaney's superb turn in the six-yard box won a corner and, although Robbie Briscoe's first kick was cleared, the winger was soon forcing keeper Lee Webb into a spectacular save as the ball was quickly returned into the Redditch penalty area.
Briscoe's next corner was markedly more successful as Gil Land powered in at the far post to bury a classic header.
The pressure was on for Redditch but when they tried to relieve it through Taylor's right wing break, Aston had to be alert to clutch the striker's deflected shot.
That prompted another wave of Rovers attacking and the second goal duly arrived when Graeme Rigg's deflected shot fell perfectly for Stuart Evans to score from close range.
Paul Acklam then replaced Briscoe for his first appearance after a 12-week injury lay-off and the striker's first touch was a spectacular one, a shot from Devaney's excellent right wing cross flying inches over.
Acklam's second encounter with the ball was even more devastating, Devaney again the provider with a cultured flick that released his new strike partner for a clear run and the coolest of finishes from 12 yards.
Redditch were in despair but they gamely pressed for recompense only for Weston to win a tussle just inside his own half with Mulholland and release Devaney for a brilliant run past two defenders and a low shot from just inside the box giving Webb not the faintest of chances to save.
Devaney almost capped even that strike with a 20-yard cracker that brought a diving save from Webb and even a run in the dying minutes from Chris Moss, taking him past three Rovers defenders, could not wring the slightest of consolation, the striker firing wide of an open goal from six yards as Aston raced from his line.
Gresley Rovers (0) 4
Redditch United (0) 0
Scorers: Land 51, Evans 63, Acklam 73, Devaney 77.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Elliott, Swainston, Denby (Dick 75), Evans, Land, Wardle, Rigg, Weston, Devaney, Briscoe (Acklam 63).
Redditch United: Webb, Mulholland, Snowball, Molloy, Williams, Holt, Seivwright, Smith, Taylor, Moss, Donnelly. Subs not used: Levy, Chambers.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Martin Devaney.
Referee: M Dexter (Thurmaston).
Attendance: 566
