Tipton Town vs Gresley Rovers
Gee force – Mike StJohn – Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers put Monday night's disappointing League Cup exit firmly behind them to trounce Tipton Town with a five-goal slam at the Union Stadium last night.
Phil Gee, scorer of two Gresley goals in the Moatmen's 3–0 victory at Shifnal on Saturday, clocked up an impressive five goals in just two Banks's Brewery West Midlands (Regional) League outings when he scored a hat trick in the Rovers' romp.
Additional goals from Dave Butler and Clive Arthur illuminated a wet and murky Black Country evening as the Moatmen coasted to their second emphatic away victory in the space of five days.
A fine all-round team performance blitzed a Tipton Town outfit who failed to make any great impact until Gee secured his hat trick by scoring Gresley's fifth goal in the 67th minute.
Paul French scored what proved to be a consolation goal for Tipton 17 minutes from time as Rovers relaxed their grip in the latter stages.
Gresley got off to a great start with Gee opening up his three-goal account in the 12th minute.
Brian Attley's left wing cross landed perfectly for Gee, who flashed through the middle to beat two defenders and deposited a powerful drive into the back of the net.
The Moatmen reinforced their single goal lead only nine minutes later when Gee, the executioner, turned creator. Arthur fastened onto Gee's defence splitting pass and set himself up to firmly strike a fierce effort past the helpless Tipton keeper Kev Carrington and into the left corner of the net from a full 25 yards.
Tipton had their moments too – but the Gresley defence were always one move ahead. Welch did manage to ease his way through however, to unleash a meaty drive over the upright and Rovers' keeper Martin McNamara came out of a long spell of inactivity by making a brilliant right handed reflex save over the bar to deny Dean Walters.
At the other end, Gresley continued to menace and a third goal rightly gave the visitors a three goal halftime cushion when Gee fastened onto Steve Dolby's through-ball after it slowed in the wet grass to finish with stunning efficiency in the 38th minute.
Only a further McNamara save at the right post preserved a blank sheet ten minutes into the second half and it was then left to centre forward Butler to make it 4 – 0 to Gresley.
Attley, who played magnificently in his 68-minute performance, tracked down the left wing and found Butler, who had the simple job of nodding the ball home from 2 yards out.
Gresley's fifth goal was a result of Butler's persistence in the Tipton penalty area. Defenders Pedley and Shenton's attempts to throw the centre forward off the ball were in vain as Carrington could only parry his attempt at goal, Gee effectively stabbed it home from close range.
Arthur nearly made it 6–0 but Carrington tipped the ball round for a corner.
Gresley lost their control in the later stages and not surprisingly they conceded a goal as Tipton were given the opportunity to make an impression.
With the Rovers defence at sixes and sevens, Welch capitalised with a powerful drive into the right corner.
The goal heralded a late Tipton revival but Gresley were in an unassailable position by then and two more points were assured.
Tipton Town (0) 1
Gresley Rovers (3) 5
Scorers: Gee 12, 38, 67, Butler 68, Arthur 21(Gresley); French 73 (Tipton).
Tipton Town: Carrington, Aston, Pedley, Shinton, Marsh, Smith, Bunch, Winsper, Green, Walters (Littlewood 63), Welch.
Gresley Rovers: McNamara, Earley, Thompson, Attley (Davey 68), Watkiss, Davies, Arthur, Gee, Butler, Dearn, Dolby.
Referee: M Pearson (Stafford).
