Burton Albion vs Gresley Rovers
Albion hold on to cup – Rex Page – Burton Mail
Adrian Doughty shot down Gresley Rovers’ Johnson Cup hopes for the second successive season.
A year ago Doughty’s two-goal Moat Ground blast propelled Burton Albion towards a victorious penalty shoot-out.
And at Eton Park last night it was the young midfielder’s 26th minute goal that gave classy Albion the edge in the dress rehearsal for what promises to be a titanic struggle for Beazer Premier Division supremacy.
This was, of course, only a relatively minor skirmish but such is the rivalry between the clubs there is no such thing as a friendly contest. There was, thus, enough at stake for both teams to use it as a benchmark of their progress.
Albion emerged with most credit and deserved to win by a margin that more appropriately reflected their all round superiority.
The quality of their passing – particularly that of rejuvenated Robbie Jones and trialist Tommy Curtis – suggested that their preparations for the new campaign are going well.
Gresley, in contrast, looked short on match practice and general sharpness to do themselves justice.
Like Albion, they were missing key personnel and will expect to be in much better shape by the time the serious business starts on August 21st.
Steve Nelson and Gary Redgate, already forming an effective partnership at the heart of Albion’s defence, blunted a lightweight Gresley attack for much of the game.
Rovers had just two glimpses of goal before the interval, but Paul Acklam headed disappointingly too high after good work by Tony Marsden and Mark Hurst, who later saw a shot flash across the face of goal.
Gresley managed to resist Albion’s flowing early pressure only to undo their good work in the 26th minute.
Gil Land was caught on his heels as Albion swept the ball forward and Paul Gretton seized the chance to bustle past him and square the ball for Doughty to rifle in a firm right-foot shot.
Albion should have stretched their lead instantly, but after Gresley had been mesmerised by a superb four-man move Karl Payne fired too high from 12 yards.
The Brewers continued to dominate in the opening stages of the second half, with Andy Tomlinson, Peter Howell and Chris Brookes all making useful contributions.
Redgate went close with a header and Howell was inches away from converting a cross from Robbie Briscoe.
Briscoe was only inches away after Jones rolled a free kick into his path and Doughty tested the handling of Bob Aston.
Gresley brought on six substitutes in the final half hour and with Albion also making further changes, the game inevitably fell away.
Rovers best chances of an equaliser came in the 81st minute when Barrie Galloway fastened onto a stray Albion pass to gallop into the area unchallenged, but his weak finish was easily saved by Nick Goodwin.
All hope for Rovers vanished in the final minute when Goodwin got down well at the near post to smother a curling free kick from Mick Taplin.
Burton Albion (1) 1
Gresley Rovers (0) 0
Scorer: Doughty 26.
Burton Albion: Goodwin, Williams, Briscoe, Nelson, Redgate, Curtis (A Tomlinson 45), Doughty (Leivers 77), Jones (M Lonergan 70), Gretton (Howell 45), Payne (Brookes 45), D Tomlinson (Carvell 70).
Gresley Rovers: Aston (Wheatley 62), Dick, Swainston, Marsden (Holness 70), Evans, Land, Weston (Taplin 62), Mead (Venning 62), Acklam, Osborne (Moore 58), Hurst (Galloway 62).
Referee: R Horswell (Repton).
Attendance: 628
