Gresley Rovers vs Weston-super-Mare
Gresley striker's treble tonic - Andy Parker - Burton Mail
Paul Acklam created a little piece of history at the Moat Ground on Saturday when he became the first Gresley Rovers player to score a Beazer Homes League hat trick.
More importantly, though, Acklam's goals revitalised Rovers' title challenge by providing the Moatmen's first league victory in five attempts.
Once again, however, there was concern about goals conceded with Rovers boss Steve Dolby confessing: "We seem to lapse into really bad defensive mistakes at times. Sometimes we look unbeatable at the back and sometimes we give away really bad goals. We played really well against Bedworth in midweek yet today I thought we were poor."
Acklam gave Rovers a perfect start, glancing Robbie Briscoe's cross past keeper Glenn Thomas with under two minutes on the clock and the Weston defence apparently still in the changing rooms.
Yet just three minutes later winger Neil Hawkins charged down Graeme Rigg's clearance and full back Rick Chandler's cross found its way through a well-manned Rovers penalty area for Phil Shrimpton to net from six yards at the far post.
Rovers struggled to find their rhythm after that setback but with a half time nearing finally mounted a period of sustained pressure climaxed by Acklam's charge through the centre, midfielder Alan Hooker's attempted backpass coming back off the post for the striker to fire home from close range.
Rovers continued to dominate after the break and the points seemed secure when substitute Mike Taplin cut in from the left, Weston stepped over his cross and the ball looped up off a defender for Acklam to drift the ball over Thomas and under the bar.
More poor defending handed Weston a lifeline, however. Paul Tatterton ran right at the heart of the home defence and a one-two with Hawkins opened the way for a close range shot that Aston could only beat out for Lee Rogers, following up, to tap home.
Rovers' authority suddenly evaporated and there were some anxious moments before Bob Aston's mighty kick cleared the visitor's defence and Weston gambolled clear to beat Thomas with a precise low shot.
Gresley Rovers (2) 4
Weston-super-Mare (1) 2
Scorers: Acklam 2, 42, 74, Weston 90 (Gresley Rovers); Shrimpton 5, Rogers 80 (Weston-super-Mare).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Elliott, Swainston, Denby, Evans, Land, Wardle, Rigg, Acklam (Dick 83), Weston, Briscoe (Taplin 60).
Weston-super-Mare: Thomas, Chandler, Holtham, Tatterton, Bowering, Rogers, Hooker, Shrimpton, Lazenby (Adams 78), Elson (Chattoe 35), Hawkins.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Paul Acklam.
Referee: R J Morris (Redditch).
Attendance: 668
