Shifnal Town vs Gresley Rovers
Gee Whizz - Mike St John - Burton Mail
Classy Gresley Rovers made a bubbly start to their Banks's Brewery West Midlands League campaign with a convincing three-goal victory at Shifnal Town on Saturday.
Close season import Phil Gee capped a masterful league debut for the Moatmen with two well taken goals after centre forward Dave Butler had stormed Gresley into a 10th minute lead.
Summer's untimely arrival at a sun-baked Admiral Park deterred the industrial Rovers little, if at all, although last season's bottom club Shifnal flagged under the pressure.
Gresley's goals not only secured maximum points but under a new sponsorship deal by Banks's Brewery they will receive two pounds for each goal scored - a feature that will continue throughout the season as an incentive to score more goals.
To be mercenary the Moatmen could have deposited more money in the kitty but for some wayward finishing, but the general end product must have given manager Frank Northwood plenty to enthuse about.
It was not a flawless performance, however. On occasions in the first half Shifnal threatened to catch the Gresley back four on the break.
And in the opening 15 minutes of the second half in particular, the Moatmen were pushed on to the defensive and were lucky to remain unscathed after Shifnal's serious assault on goal.
Dave Butler opened the Gresley account when he received one of Clive Arthur's many well intended passes up the right to nonchalantly twist his way past goalkeeper Paul Biffen and squeeze the ball inside the left post.
Gresley's early celebrations were soon marred by Melvyn Pegg's premature departure through a pulled muscle, but the injury gave substitute Stuart Watkiss ample time to prove his worth.
Phil Gee's lightning pace was always going to be a great asset to Gresley when Arthur stroked another telling pass down the right flank the ex-Bloxwich player spectacularly finished the move off on the half-hour.
The blonde-haired striker collected the ball, which slowed down rapidly in the long grass, and advanced into the penalty area to weave past Reynolds and Davis before crashing an unstoppable effort into the far corner to make it 2 - 0.
Shifnal showed more promise in the early stages of the second half than they had done in the entire first half, and Gresley were suddenly put to the test.
Mark Poole and Gary Quinton both went close for the home side and during the Shifnal revival Gresley goalkeeper Martin McNamara and Gee required treatment while Quinton needed the trainer's attention as a more competitive element crept into the game.
Gresley rode the storm, and soon got back into their stride. Butler trickled the ball across Shifnal's six-yard box and then struck a tame left footer wide of the right post following a promising build up.
As Shifnal's early second half pressure subsided Gresley found the opportune moment to take a three-goal lead, in the 68th minute.
Ian Earley sent over a fine cross from the right wing, and Gee appeared to come from nowhere to send a powerful diving header past a helpless Biffen.
Gresley had to contain a late Shifnal burst with McNamara coming to the rescue with a brilliant reflex save from Poole.
Steve James miscued the ball straight into the goalkeeper's arms on a separate raid, and although the Moatmen seemed content to allow the Town to get so much shooting practice in at the end, it was perhaps fortunate that Shifnal seem to need plenty of it.
Shifnal Town (0) 0
Gresley Rovers (2) 3
Scorers: Butler, Gee (2)
Shifnal Town: Biffen, Reynolds, Clarke, Burns, Davis, Lapinski, James, Moore, Poole, Quinton, Rowe: Sub not used; Jones.
Gresley Rovers: McNamara, Earley, Pegg (Watkiss 19), Bromley, Dolby, Thompson, Arthur, Gee, Butler, Dearn, Attley.
Referee: D J Dunkley (Rushall).
