Eagley Sports vs Gresley Rovers
Parkins opens his account
Chris Parkins marked his Gresley Rovers debut by scoring two goals in the second
of two matches over the West Lancashire League side Eagley Sports on Saturday.
In the first match the home side had no answers to a rampant Rovers side. Ian
Roberts had hardly touched the ball before Rovers scored three goals in an eight-minute
spell towards the end of the first half.
The opening goal was scored by Ian Willson with Kevin Allsop following up with
two, tapping in a close-range effort and then heading in a cracking goal, the
cross-supplied by the busy Shaun Bedward from a left-wing cross.
Unfortunately new signing Alex Green was forced to withdraw from the second
game with the niggling thigh strain still causing him trouble. However, a much-changed
side picked up where the previous match left off. Chris Parkins was a constant
danger to the home defence and no one was surprised when the former Mickleover
Sports hit -man opened his account in the 29th minute.
The home side drew level just before half time when Rovers' keeper James Lindley
failed to clear a back-pass by Stuart Evans and allowed Stevenson to slot in
a simple chance.
Triallist Lee Westwood was at hand to support Parkins in scoring his second
goal, along with Richard Wardle and Chris Gray, within seconds of the start
of the second half.
Westwood, having a great match, scored what was arguably the goal of the match
with a fierce shot into the top right hand corner with the keeper stranded.
Thomas reduced the deficit with a close range header before Allsop, one of
several substitutes, scored his third goal of the day and helped restore the
two-goal lead.
Player manager John McGinlay overstepped a free kick, to leave debutant Gray
to easily beat the home keeper with a precise shot into the top corner of the
net.
McGinlay again provided a telling through ball that the unlucky Gray smashed
against the foot of a post.
After the match manager John McGinlay said he was very pleased with the attitude
and effort of his players.
"It was nice to see the midfield having some shots and we scored some very
good goals.," he said.
