Ripley Miners Welfare vs Gresley Rovers
Ripley Miners Welfare 0 - 2 Gresley Rovers
We visited Ripley Miners Welfare at their Nottingham Road ground 37 years ago on 28th August 1971 in an East Midlands Regional League Premier Division clash.
Rovers: Slaney, Woollett, Perry, Fitchett, Gutteridge, King, Raven, Liddle, Leeason, Taylor, Francis. Sub: G Duggins
Ripley MW: Shaw, Webb, Ward, Fearn, A Hill, Merrtt, Goodrun, Mann, Grace, Kelly, Lancashire. Sub: K Hill
Rovers scored a deserved victory, their fifth in fifteen days. Critics may have claimed that such a score was by no means convincing. But the result was achieved on a bumpy pitch, which had got no better since the Rovers last played on it, and against a near gale force wind.
We got an early goal and managed to hold on to it with some stout defending while facing the wind and then set about strengthening the grip of the match after the change round.
The goal that put Rovers in command came after only six minutes. It was scored by Geoff Leeson after good work by Raven and Francis, his header left Shaw helpless.
Ripley then mounted a constant barrage of attacks which tested the Rovers' defence almost to breaking point.
The giant Mick Gutteridge made everything his in the air and Dennis King swept up efficiently.
The second goal came in the 70th minute; Leeson was again the scorer when he was handily placed when a bad back pass from Andy Hill failed to reach Shaw. He nipped in took the ball around the keeper and slotted home the match clincher. Gordon Duggins replaced the injured Leeson 15 minutes from time.
Rovers' keeper Ian Slaney still remained unbeaten after 450 minutes of football.
