Gresley Rovers vs Derby County X1
Gresley Rovers rolled back the years at the Moat Ground last night in honour of three long-serving players.
The club’s FA Vase final side from 1991 was re-assembled for a testimonial game for Martin Dick, Paul Acklam and Neil Lovell.
However, Derby’s young side spoiled the party somewhat by dominating the first half, with neat possession football.
Martyn Clark, one of disappointingly few first players with first-team experience on view, took advantage of a poor back pass by Scott Elliott to open the scoring after 20 minutes then crossing for Lee Carsley to score the second with a diving header after 37.
Gresley’s ageing 11 barley got sight of Chris McKenzie’s goal but there was one moment of pure nostalgia when Craig Weston set up Brian Beresford for a shot saved by the keeper’s fingertips.
Rovers reverted to a more contemporary line up for the second half but despite seeing much more of the ball it was still Derby who created most of the chances.
A miraculous goal line clearance by Tony Marsden denied Chalk a second goal then after Bob Aston had lost out to Stuart Hadley, the centre forward rolled the ball wide of an empty net.
Rovers substitute Chris Moore stepped up his claims for a first team place by pulling a goal back within five minutes of coming on – this time after a poor backpass by Mel Sage – but four minutes later Chalk restored Derby’s two-goal advantage with a header from Darren Wrack’s cross.
Derby could have had more as they continued to miss a string of glaring chances but it was left to Rovers to complete the story when a superb crossfield ball by Mike Taplin was laid off by Mark Hurst for Martin Devaney to thump in the best goal of the game.
Gresley Rovers X1 (0) 2
Derby County X1 (2) 3
Scorers: Moore 76, Devaney 85 (Gresley Rovers); Chalk 20, 80, Carsley 37 (Derby County).
Rovers (first half): Aston, Dick, Elliott, Stokes, Land, Astley, Weston, Adcock (Beresford 25), Acklam, Rathbone, Lovell.
Second half: Aston, Marsden, Elliott, Osborne, Evans, Dick, Weston, Devaney, Acklam (Moore 71), Taplin, Hurst.
Referee: R Gould (Newhall).
Attendance: 648
