Gresley Rovers vs Chasetown
Wallop! – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers had to lean heavily on the extra-ordinary skills of striker Brian Beresford to get their Banks’s League Premier Division campaign off to a winning start at the Moat Ground on Saturday.
A drab and disorganised performance from Rovers was illuminated by three moments of brilliance from the man whose 39 goals last season helped them to runners-up spot.
Beresford squeezed his stunning contribution into 20 minutes of the first half to create the totally false impression that Gresley were markedly the better side.
He scored first after 24 minutes, instinctively hooking home a superb left-foot shot from 12-yards after accelerating onto Paul Stringer’s clever chip into the area.
And he struck again on 41 minutes when Norman Cotterill sent a headed back pass sailing wide of goalkeeper Peter Williams.
By the time the ball had been brought under control, Beresford was confronted with an almost impossible angle but his immaculate touch made scoring look ludicrously simple.
Chasetown’s ordeal was not over yet for with a minute of the first half remaining, Beresford’s dazzling control in the penalty area enabled him to wrong-foot the visitor’s defence and present Stringer with the chance to celebrate his debut with a goal from six yards out.
Strangely, Rovers were unable to maintain the momentum after the interval. As a result, Chasetown took control of the game after the interval forcing Gresley to endure long periods of pressure.
Unfortunately for Chasetown, their beat chances fell to Peter Mould, a player Gresley tried to recruit last season but who on Saturday gave the impression that it was the first time he had come into contact with a ball since last May.
Gresley Rovers (3) 3
Chasetown (0) 0
Scorers: Beresford 24, 41; Stringer 44.
Gresley Rovers: Austin, Arthur, Earley, Barrows, Dolby, King, Philpott (Bromley 60), Laws, Priest, Beresford, Stringer.
Chasetown: Williams, Cox, Jones T, Richards, Cotterill, Jones A, Shepherd, Jones G, Tonks, Mould, Blakemore. Sub not used: Brown.
Attendance: 250
