Gresley Rovers vs Hinckley Athletic
Full marks – Rex Page – Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers rediscovered their appetite for goals to stretch their unbeaten run to ten games in the Moat Ground mud last night.
After Saturday’s lapse at GKN Sankey, Gresley’s priority was to secure victory to sustain their challenge for the West Midlands League title.
It was a bonus that it should be achieved in some style and only the defiance of Hinckley’s goalkeeper Lol Chamberlain stopped them from winning by a substantial margin.
In the process, Rovers gained adequate revenge for their unhappiest moment of the season – the 3–0 FA Vase defeat at Middlefield Lane back in December.
There was little chance of a repeat last night, though Chamberlain’s spectacular performance thoroughly tested Gresley’s patience.
He made three vital contributions as Rovers piled on relentless pressure in the opening half hour.
Brian Beresford, anxious to add to his 29-goal tally, escaped attention to meet Kevin Banton’s corner, but his perfectly placed header was brilliantly turned round a post.
Clive Arthur, swivelling superbly on the edge of the area, had a stinging right foot shot pushed over the bar and, within a minute, John Laws was foiled by another agile piece of goalkeeping.
Hinckley seemed to have weathered the storm when on the stroke of half time; Chamberlain was betrayed by a calamitous error by Davis Tedds.
On a treacherous, rain soaked surface Tedds’ attempt to make a back-pass was ill advised with Arthur lurking dangerously.
As the winger seized the invitation to punish the mistake he was up-rooted by Chamberlain and duly smashed in his tenth penalty – and 21st goal of the season.
Gresley looked capable of victory by some distance, especially when they struck again in startling fashion in the 57th minute.
Mark Bromley’s cross was expertly chested down by Beresford into the path of new skipper Dave King, who thrashed in a shot of awesome power from all of 25-yards.
Hinckley seemed to be on the brink of total collapse, but Chamberlain spared them any further embarrassment with two more saves of the highest quality to keep out Arthur’s instinctive left foot volley and another header from Beresford.
Gresley Rovers (0) 2
Hinckley Athletic (0) 0
Scorers: Arthur 45, King 57.
Gresley Rovers: Austin, Earley, Bromley, West, Dolby, King, Arthur, Laws, Philpott, Beresford, Banton. Sub: Priest.
Hinckley Athletic: Chamberlain, Canning, Pursey, Slade, Sales, Tedds, Hardy, Lambert, Fenton, Whalley, Taylor.
Sub: Allen.
Referee: K Dunn (Atherstone).
Attendance: 262
