Oldswinford vs Gresley Rovers
Six shooters - Mike StJohn - Burton Mail
Brian Beresford scooped four goals as buzzing Gresley Rovers blasted Oldswinford for six at The Dell last night.
Frank Northwood's lethal band of supremos looked capable of surpassing the 8 - 0 battering of Armitage on February 1st, and only half hearted shooting at the end prevented this being so.
Kevin Banton began the rout and Clive Arthur cracked home his eleventh penalty of the season to complete the drubbing.
This may not have ranked as one of the Moatmen's greatest displays of the season, but it was the sort of formidable result Rovers needed to worry their fellow runner's -up contenders in the West Midlands League.
A three-goal half time lead was a comfortable enough cushion, considering that Gresley had been greatly assisted by a gale in the first half.
Oldswinford failed to get their game together in the second period as Gresley happily belted three more past the Black Country side before the end.
The demolition act started after a brief flurry at both ends during which Oldswinford followed good moves up the right with the searching centres that had the Gresley defence ill at ease.
But Gresley, who have not tasted defeat in 1986, quickly connected themselves into the importance of this game as they embarked on their goal chase.
Banton started the proceedings in the eleventh minute when he gracefully weaved his way past Blunt and Hickman to unleash a beefy 25-yarder that had goalkeeper Adams completely beaten.
There was concern when Steve Dolby emerged from an innocuous 50-50 challenge flat on his back and clearly concussed.
A four minute delay and the trainer's assistance was needed to get the dazed central defender back on his feet, and apparently in the full swing of things again.
Five minutes later Gresley went 2-0 ahead as Beresford set off on his goal trail with the first of two headed goals.
John Laws and Mark Bromley were tightly pegged in at the left corner but Bromley used the little space to great advantage as he sailed over a telling cross out of nothing and Beresford was there to glance the ball home at the far post.
The only really successful thing Oldswinford did all evening was to keep the Gresley trainer busy as Bromley, Glyn West and Dave Butler all needed treatment.
In the case of Gresley's third goal, though, it was not so much hard tackling as sheer clumsiness on full back Wood's part.
Rovers' goalkeeper Karl Austin had been given his first - and only - real test of the evening as Hickman's free kick was brilliantly snatched away from the raising head of Day.
Austin quickly booted the ball downfield. It caught in the wind and as it landed in the opposing penalty area Banton cut across a line of defenders and was duly nobbled.
Clive Arthur notched up his eleventh penalty success of the season with a firmly drilled spot kick into the left corner and Gresley were well on the way to victory.
Gresley took a long time to get going after the interval as the wind allowed the home side to carve a few openings.
But the Moatmen, with full back Rob Philpott looking especially sharp in his new position, saw off Oldswinford's bravado with a staggering three goals in a ten minute blitz.
Rovers were presented with one of many free kicks on the edge of the area, Banton ran over the ball and Beresford raced up to blaze it past Adam.
Gresley were forced into a moment's panic as West hooked the ball off the line but after that scare it was a case of plain sailing.
A superb inswinging left footed centre from Arthur on the right confirmed his adaptability in a difficult spot and Beresford instinctively nodded home at the far post for his hat trick and the fifth goal in the 72nd minute.
To complete Oldswinford's misery Beresford received the ball some 20-yards in the centre following a good move involving West and Banton on the left, and almost mockingly worked his way into the area to blast it into the left corner.
Oldswinford (0) 0
Gresley Rovers (3) 6
Scorers: Banton 11, Beresford 30, 65, 72, 75; Arthur 38,
Oldswinford: Adams M, Cassidy, Wood, Hickman, Blunt, Day, Adams S, Brookes, Norwood, Welch, Bennett. Sub: Rowe.
Gresley Rovers: Austin, Philpott, Bromley, West, Dolby, Butler, Arthur, Laws, Branch, Beresford, Banton. Sub: Burrows.
Attendance: 114
