Wednesfield Social vs Gresley Rovers
Rovers’ run struggles on – Rex Page – Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers’ suspicions that Wednesfield Social would offer a serious threat to their unbeaten record this year were duly confirmed at Amos Lane on Saturday.
Rovers’ patchy form prevented them from imposing themselves on the game, even though leading scorer Brian Beresford manufactured a first half lead for them with a brilliant piece of improvisation.
Ultimately, Rovers were relieved to emerge from the game with their most profitable run of the season – now standing at 14 games – still intact.
Wednesfield applied long periods of pressure to test Rovers’ resolve in defence and when that was finally broken by Sylvester Cunningham in the 74th minute, Social twice went close to snatching victory.
Gresley failed to make the most of conditions, which favoured them in the first, half.
Robert Philpott ought to have scored as early as the sixth minute, but he sliced his close-range shot wide of an exposed goal after a sweeping six-man move, which should have set the standard but was rarely equalled.
Rovers were never able to sustain their pressure and Social twice went close to snatching the lead. Cunningham grazed the top of the bar with a header and, for the second match running, there was more than a suspicion of handball when Mark Bromley made a goal line clearance, the victim this time the lively David Morrison.
Despite having to contend with the brisk breeze, Social seemed to have wrestled the initiative from Gresley when Beresford struck.
Arthur was fouled five yards outside the area and Beresford brilliantly curled a left foot free kick round the outside of the defensive wall and inside the right hand post of a bemused Gary Beech.
It was just the stimulus Gresley needed and had Kevin Banton’s control not let him down on the edge of the area they might have increased their lead after Beresford’s pass had sliced open the home defence.
That was the last time Gresley seriously threatened Beech, for after the interval Social made good use of the wind to press Rovers deep into their own territory.
A well-ordered defence, in which Glen West was outstanding, looked capable of soaking up the pressure, though it took a marvellous save from Karl Austin to keep out a blistering drive from Morrison.
But a wretched piece of defending by Steve Dolby finally rewarded Social for their resourcefulness in the 74th minute.
Dolby unaccountably failed to make a routine interception of Simon Peach’s cross from the right and Cunningham’s low shot from eight yards crept in off the post despite being mis-hit.
Suddenly, Rovers’ defence looked strangely brittle now that a faltering midfield attack exposed it to the full force of a rejuvenated Social attack.
Bromley climaxed an erratic game with a completely miscued clearance which flew over then head of Austin and, thankfully, inches the wrong side of the post.
Wednesfield Social (0) 1
Gresley Rovers (1) 1
Scorers: Cunningham 74 (Wednesfield Social): Beresford 30 (Gresley Rovers).
Wednesfield Social: Beech, Beattie, Liggins, Prince, Evans, Sturgess, Peach, Cunningham, Morrison, Hill K, Hill A. Sub: Parker.
Gresley Rovers: Austin, Earley, Bromley, West, Dolby, King, Arthur, Laws, Philpott, Beresford, Banton. Sub: Butler.
Referee: K H Hoare (Birmingham).
Attendance: 100
