Gresley Rovers vs Oldswinford
Cup Cracker – Richard Whitehead – Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers bludgeoned their way into the second qualifying round of the FA Cup last night with another fierce display of firepower.
But this victory, in a superbly entertaining eight-goal thriller, left Rovers’ chief Frank Northwood with a whole lot of worries.
For after being 3–0 ahead at half time Rovers allowed Oldswinsford back into the game with some very sloppy defensive work.
And while the win once again underlined what a remarkable goal-scoring machine Northwood has assembled it did pose a question about the strength in depth at the club.
With Stuart Watkiss and Brian Attley both out of action Rovers were often found wanting for pace at the back and it was also an uneasy night for Martin McNamara.
But those doubts should take nothing away from Rovers’ sparkling attacking soccer at the other end of the field.
Brian Beresford struck first with two goals; Steve Dolby added another before half time and in the second half two more spectacular strikes came from Ian Staley and Dave Butler.
It took Rovers just ten minutes to start their progress towards the second qualifying round via the boot of Beresford.
Oldswinsford keeper Phil Clarke dropped a cross under pressure from Staley and when Clive Arthur whipped the ball quickly back into the middle Beresford stroked it into the empty net.
Sixteen minutes later it was 2–0 when Beresford extravagantly curled a low drive around the visitors’ defensive wall and into the right-hand corner of the net.
Any doubts about Gresley’s passage to the next stage of the competition were removed three minutes before the break when Staley’s in swinging corner from the left was nudged home from close range by Dolby.
That lead should have been the platform for a showpiece second half, but in the 51st minute Darryl Norwood pulled a goal back when he looped a header over McNamara after the Rovers defence had failed to clear a high free kick.
Just after the hour mark Gresley restored the three-goal advantage when Beresford lifted a pass over the static Oldswinsford rearguard and Staley ran on to drive the ball home from the edge of the box.
A minute later Tim Langford jinked past David Nish before slashing a shot between McNamara and the near post although several Rovers protested that the ball had actually gone into the side netting.
In the 70th minute Butler showed that Northwood will surely be reluctant to drop him with a devastating finish to another sweeping move.
Roger Davies began the break with a penetrating long ball to Beresford, he squared it for Butler, who left his man with a superb turn before drilling a shot under Clarke.
But that was far from the end of the entertainment as Clinton Bennett twisted and turned before driving a shot past McNamara’s uncertain dive to make it 5–3.
But Gresley were spared the embarrassment of an undignified late scramble when McNamara brilliantly pushed away Paul Hickman’s penalty nine minutes from time.
Gresley Rovers (2) 5
Oldswinford (0) 3
Scorers: Beresford 10, 26, Dolby 42, Staley 62, Butler 70 (Gresley); Norwood 51, Langford 63, Bennett 75 Oldswinsford).
Referee: P King (Worcester).
Attendance: 210
