Armitage vs Gresley Rovers
Rovers strikers make it tough – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Gresley boss Steve Dolby faces a selection headache of the nicest kind for Saturday’s big Beazer Premier kick-off at Dorchester.
Less than a week after telling his squad that no-one had yet played their way into his team, Dolby had now seen the situation do an about-turn after impressive performances against Heanor last week and, on Saturday, at Armitage.
The greatest speculation among Rovers fans concerns who will form Dolby’s Dorchester strike force – particularly after Mike Taplin’s classy hat trick at Kings Bromley Lane.
Mark Hurst – also on the Saturday score sheet – Heanor’s destroyer Simon Osbourne, long-serving Paul Acklam and Martin Devaney have also pressed strong claims for a place up front.
And with former Burton Albion youngster Chris Moore doing nothing to harm his chances of getting a shirt with an industrious midfield and Graeme Rigg making an impressive return to the back four the conundrum was merely complicated further.
Taplin was quickest to remind Dolby of his predatory powers, sidefooting home after 13 minutes when Acklam’s shot, set up by Rigg’s pinpoint through ball, was palmed down by Matthew Farmer.
Hurst feasted on the opportunity for his second goal of pre-season with an emphatic penalty after Tage skipper Paul Haddock had been adjudged to handle Tony Marsden’s shot.
Then Taplin made the best of more defensive shortcomings by firing clinically past Farmer after Pete Hudson had failed to cut out Acklam’s pass.
Armitage looked well beaten already although Rigg was forced to clear Eric Sandiford’s header off the line before the break.
Taplin rubbed in Rovers’ superiority after taking Osbourne’s pass around the keeper and there could and should have been more goals.
Armitage (0) 0
Gresley Rovers (3) 4
Scorers: Taplin 13, 39, 59, Hurst 35 (pen).
Armitage: Farmer, Hudson, Godfrey, Haddock, Nicholls, Sylvester, Alleyne, Martin (Ede 45), Brown, Sandiford, Oldacre (Dunelly 45). Subs not used: Johns, Moss, Freeman.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Dick (Weston 49), Rigg, Denby (Holness 64), Land, Stanborough, Moore, Marsden, Acklam (Osbourne 49), Taplin, Hurst.
Referee: D J Soloman (Cannock).
Attendance: 120
