Gresley Rovers vs Derby County
Rams Hit Three At The Moat - Andy Parker - Burton Mail
Derby County reminded hosts Gresley Rovers that there is still a long way to go before the start of of the new season as they completed an emphatic Bass Vase win at the Moat Ground.
As Gresley boss Brian Kenning had predicted they would be, Billy McEwan's youngsters proved far ahead of the Moatmen in the fitness stakes as they left Rovers to gasp home a distant second.
The Moat Ground has taken on a new look during the summer with an extensive spruce-up completed but there was a familiar look about things on the pitch with keeper Richard Selby, in ahead of deadleg victim Ian Wright,and defender Carl Middleton the only new recruits in the squad. Kenning opted for a now familiar formation with three at the back but while Rovers were compact and workmanlike to begin with, they soon found themselves being intolerably
stretched by the lively Rams.
Selby, who was to have a busy - and impressive - night was soon in action, producing an athletic save to keep out Scott Rickards' angled drive after livewire Adam Murray had picked Rovers' defensive padlocks with some ease.
With barely a pause for breath, Selby was then off his line to block Marvin Robinson's shot with his feet as the Rovers back line was exposed for pace and understanding again. With 21 minuutes gone the inevitable arrived,Paul Boertien again opening up the home rearguard with a dazzling run past three defenders before setting up the off-side looking Marcus Tudgay to tap somewhat embarrassedly into an empty net.
Selby had proved helpless on that occasion but soon he was keeping his new side in the game with an impressive triple save, blocking first Robinson, then Murray and, finally and most impressively, Ian Evatt as the Ram's turned the screw from a poorly defended corner.
Rovers did not have a glimmer of a chance until Dave King's lay-off gave Mick Sandar the chance to test England U16 keeper Lee Grant with a rasping 18-yard drive on 33 minutes. That was a rare high point for Rovers, who went
further behind on the hour after Middleton failed to clear Rickards' cross,leaving Richard Jackson to despatch a low drive from 10 yrds.
Gresley were truly reeling now and Rickards' made it three when he tapped in Murray's cross following a long spell of Derby possession.
There might have been more goals for Derby's followers to cheer but Selby blocked from Tudgay with Matt Warren clearing the striker's follow-up off the line.
Two minutes from time, Rovers' own fans were given something to cheer when Warren's excellently flighted through ball gave Sandar the chance to burst past Evatt and measure a precise shot into the bottom corner.
Gresley Rovers: (0) 1
Derby County: (1) 3
Scorers: Sandar 88 (Gresley Rovers); Tudgay 22, Jackson 61, Rickards 74 (Derby County).
Gresley Rovers: Selby, Broadhurst (Roberts 75), Thornhill (Cousins 64), Bluck, Reynolds (Warren 45) Middleton, Wardle, Coates, Sandar, King (Peters 64), Walshe.Subs not used: Baldwin.
Derby County: Grant, Jackson, Boertien, Murray, Hunt, Evatt, Rickards, Bolder, Tudgay, Robinson (O'Halloran 66), Clarke (Mckeown 66).Subs not used: Smith, Berni,Cleary.
Referee: R A Olivier (Sutton Coldfield).
Attendance: 750
