Gresley Rovers vs Radcliffe Olympic
Final score: Gresley Rovers 3 - 1 Radcliffe Olympic
Without four regular first teamers, Gresley did well to beat Radcliffe Olympic. Gresley scored three times but could have had a hatful against a square visitors' defence.
Playing against the wind in the first half the Rovers did a marvellous job in containing the Radcliffe forward line. With Mick Gutteridge declaring himself unavailable before the game the Rovers back line was in for a tough afternoon. And in the morning Ray Sharpe became a 'flu' victim and also had to pull out.
Instead of risking either Alan Taylor or Barry Fitchett at the back and depriving Gresley of a midfield player, manager Gordon Duggins decided to revert to the old system of two wing halves and play with just three men at the back. Gresley were in a position to mount attacks every other minute with five strikers in their side.
Dave Calvert, who had his best match to date for Gresley, set up the first pass to Bowler. With Birch trying to tap his ankles the number ten shot just wide.
The Olympic had gained few friends with their robust physical tackling, which for a big side was understandable. But it proved to be their undoing and led to Gresley's first goal two minutes into the second half.
Francis was brought down in the penalty box Leeson's penalty was read by Sutton but he clearly moved too soon. From the re-take Sutton dived the same way but the ball finished up in the opposite corner.
A desperate dive from Sutton kept out Fitchett's goal bound shot and a further Gresley attack saw defender Birch push away the ball with his hand and Steve Bowler calmly crashed the ball into the net for number two.
Surprisingly, Radcliffe pulled one back sixty seconds later. Skipper Charlesworth hammered a free kick past the Gresley wall and into the far corner of the goal.
With a minute to go Gresley clinched victory. Another long ball down the middle was headed on skilfully by Calvert to Francis who swept the ball into the far corner.
Gresley - Slaney, Perry, Lester, Fitchett, King, Taylor, Raven, Calvert, Leeson, Bowler, Francis. Sub (used): Duggins.
Olympic - Sutton, Birch, Ashton, R Talbot, Hewitt, B Talbot, O'Laughlin, Robinson, Barratt, Charlesworth, Carr. Sub (not used): Wright.
