Stapenhill vs Gresley Rovers
Rovers too strong for the Swans
To manager John McGinlay's relief his Gresley side found the scoring touch
in a friendly against neighbours Stapenhill.
For the first 25 minutes the Swans matched Gresley stride for stride until
Andy Bourne beat an offside trap and passed square to Chris Parkins who slid
the ball into the net.
Stand -in home keeper Andy Beeston was again beaten on 40 minutes when Bourne,
after some good play by Chris Gray, crossed a ball into the area where the waiting
John Allcock easily scored the second.
Bourne was proving to be a thorn in the flesh for Stapenhill and he was the
provider for Parkins second goal by pulling back the ball for the striker to
crash home on 43 minutes.
It only took two minutes of the second half for Nick Kennerdale to increase
Gresley's lead. Kennerdale received a through ball from Allcock easily rounded
the keeper and tapped into an empty net.
On 55 minutes Kennerdale got his second when Allcock cleared the ball long
and high and Beeston did not move for the ball allowing the on-loan Nuneaton
Borough striker to control the ball and volley into the net.
Gresley's quality began to tell with a period of intensive pressure on the
Stapenhill defence. Bourne again very busy capped off a superb display by scoring
himself on 65 minutes.
To the Swans' credit they did not give up and Peter Allum rewarded their tenacity
on 67 minutes scoring with a diving header after good work on the right by Errol
Cole.
One of the trialists, James Pickford, finished the scoring for Gresley on 85
minutes when he dribbled his way into the box and comprehensively beat Beeston
with a low shot.
With the Swans missing their regular keeper Paul Wood and the midfield pair
Paul Taylor and Andy Woodvine they were no match for a lively Gresley Rovers
side.
McGinlay will be hoping that the scoring continues when they meet the improving
Shepshed Dynamo at the Moat Ground on Saturday.
Stapenhill (0) 1
Gresley Rovers (3) 7
Scorers: Allum Stapenhill: Parkins (2) Kennerdale (2) Allcock, Bourne,
Pickford: Rovers
Stapenhill: Beeston, Hawkins, Holdroyd, Clark, Wardle, P Allum, Lonergan,
C Allum, Parry, Grant, Allen; subs used: McLaren, Marshall, Croxall, Cole.
Gresley Rovers: Lindley, Wardle, Lewsley, Allcock, Fairbrother, Evans,
Bourne, Fletcher, Kennerdale, Parkins, Kainton; subs used: Bluck, Gray, Middleton,
Pickford, Cheetham, Allsop, Moran.
Rovers
Star Man: Andy Bourne - Troubled the Swans defence all night.
Referee: R Hyde (Swadlincote).
Attendance: 50
