Gresley Rovers vs Friar Lane
Rovers’ cup of goals runs over – Rex Page – Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers gave another powerful demonstration of their rich potential as they swept to one of the biggest FA Cup wins in their history at the Moat Ground on Saturday.
Friar Lane were systematically destroyed as rampant Rovers used this preliminary tie to take their goal haul to 16 in the first four games of the season.
On paper the Leicestershire Senior League side, unbeaten in their first three games of the campaign, should have proved awkward opponents.
In the event, they were blown away like an empty paper bag in seaside gale as Gresley steamrollered their way to a first qualifying round game at Oldswinford.
Astonishingly, the result tells only half the story. It ought to have been ten, it might have been 12 and as daft as it might seem, a 15–0 score line was within Rovers’ range.
Friar Lane’s flirtation with the romance of the cup lasted just six minutes. That’s how long Gresley needed to take the Leicestershire side by the scruff of the neck and throttle them into painful extinction.
Dave Butler got a decisive near-post touch to a Clive Arthur corner and Roger Davies loped into the six-yard area to thump home a header.
Such was Rovers irresistible control that Friar Lane were barely able to venture out of their half in the opening minutes.
Phil Gee took his tally for the season to six in the 16th minutes when he turned superbly on the edge of the area to outwit a pedestrian defence before smashing in a low right-foot shot.
With Gee and Arthur posing endless problems on either flank, Friar Lane hung on grimly and were within sight after a half-time breather before Gresley struck again.
Strangely it was an unlikely combination that made the breakthrough, Mark Bromley ‘s lofted pass down the centre of the field beat the offside trap and Tommy Thompson seized the chance to score a rare goal with a clever lob from the edge of the area in the 43rd minute.
If the first half had been embarrassingly one-sided then the second proved an excruciating experience for Lane supporters. Butler headed in from close range after Gee had climbed to meet a cross from Arthur and had a header scooped of the line in the 57th minute.
Seven minutes later Butler was left with an even easier tap in when Gee’s cross from the left thudded against the inside of far post. It was time to start wondering whether Friar Lane’s defence had submitted and found a peaceful dressing room haven.
Butler’s second goal – his fourth of the season – was the signal for Gresley to introduce their much –vaunted summer signing Brian Beresford as substitute in the 68th minute.
It did not take the much-travelled striker long to make his mark for in the 73rd minute a brilliant move down the left paved the way for Beresford to celebrate his debut with a goal.
Six minutes later he made it 7–0 from close in after another brilliant run by Gee.
Within a minute Friars Lane’s nightmare was complete when Arthur thrashed in a cross-shot of awesome power.
Gresley Rovers (4) 8
Friar Lane OB (0) 0
Scorers: Butler (2), Davies, Gee, Thompson , Beresford (2), Arthur.
