Gresley Rovers vs GKN Sankey
Brian triple boosts sloppy Moatmen – Rex Page – Burton Mail
Brian Beresford collected the Burton Mail Player of the Month award last night – and then gave another demonstration of the striking power which earned him the accolade.
Beresford plundered a second-half hat trick as Rovers gained ample revenge for a League Cup defeat against the Shropshire side in the first week of the season.
More importantly, Gresley seized their chance to emphasise that their exploits in three other cup competitions have not distracted from the important task of sustaining a challenge for honours in the Banks’s Brewery West Midlands League.
It was by no means a convincing display, however, and the display disguises how hard well-organised GKN made it for Rovers.
Few of the 225 fans that braved a miserable night would argue that Gresley were overwhelmingly flattered by the result.
They were strangely subdued for long periods and were not allowed to breathe easily until Beresford struck twice in the last five minutes to complete the treble.
Indeed, a contribution almost as substantial as that of Beresford came from Steve Dolby in deepest defence.
Gresley went through a wretched spell after taking the lead in the 56th minute and for 20 minutes or so GKN threatened to run them ragged.
It was at this stage that Dolby’s display of massive authority held Rovers together and stopped victory slipping from their grasp.
Much earlier Dolby had made his mark at the other end of the field with a firm header, which was tipped superbly over the bar by Perrow as Gresley got off to a bright start.
But GKN, solid at the back, energetic in midfield and always looking to make a quick counter attack, refused to be steam-rollered on to the ropes.
It was a superb piece of goalkeeping from Martin McNamara to keep the scoresheet blank in the 15th minute. A through ball from Lochrie sent Ecclestone sprinting clear, but the Gresley keeper was quick to sense danger and raced off his line to make a sprawling save at the feet of the Sankey striker.
There were few other bright interludes in the first half as dull as the rain-laden sky.
Gresley brought the game to life after the interval. Ian Earley going close with a firm low drive after a neat link-up between Mark Bromley and Beresford.
And in the 56th minute Gresley got the breakthrough the game needed. A sweeping cross field pass from Clive Arthur finally opened up the GKN defence and when Dave Butler’s crashing left-foot shot rebounded out of the arms of Perrow, Beresford was there to sweep the ball into an unguarded net.
As GKN fought back with a furious spell of pressure Gresley had to lean heavily on the experience of Dolby and Brian Attley to protect their lead.
An equaliser looked certain in the 67th minute, but Bromley popped up on the line to make a vital clearance with McNamara beaten by a Kelly header.
Rovers’ lead looked increasingly fragile until Beresford gave them the cushion of a two-goal lead in the 86th minute.
Butler, working his way into the right-hand side of the area, drove the ball into the six-yard box hard and low and Beresford stuck out a foot to stab it past a startled Perrow.
A minute later he completed his hat-trick, neatly picking his way past two tackles in a crowded goalmouth before tucking a low left-foot shot into the corner of the net from eight yards.
Gresley Rovers (0) 3
GKN Sankey (0) 0
Scorers: Beresford 56, 86, 87.
Gresley Rovers: McNamara, Attley, Pegg, Bromley, Dolby, Thompson, Arthur, Earley, Butler, Beresford, Laws. Sub not used: Steele.
GKN Sankey: Perrow, Grass, Warrilow, Teece, Healey, McKenzie, Hull, Ecclestone, Kelly, Comerford, Lochrie. Sub not used: Watkins.
Referee: J L Godfrey (Chasewater).
Attendance: 225
