Gresley Rovers vs Wolverhampton United
Fives and threes – Rex Page – Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers’ whirlwind start to the season showed no signs of blowing itself out as a avalanche of goals engulfed the Moat Ground last night.
Rovers, considerably helped by two Clive Arthur penalties, twice had to come back from behind in a see-saw clash that had the pulses racing on the terraces from start to finish.
Ultimately, victory was only assured when leading goal scorer Brian Beresford plundered a brilliant fifth goal in the last minute.
Wolverhampton matched Rovers almost stride for stride for the first half hour, but even their multi-talented attack was unable to match Gresley’s potent blend.
Snarling Wolves delivered the first blow after only nine minutes when Gresley failed to clear John Teasdale’s low cross from the left. Two shots were blocked before the impressive Marcus Malcolm calmly beat Karl Austin with a clever chip from 12-yards.
It took Rovers only three minutes to conjure up a positive response. Beresford’s cross from the left found Clive Arthur unattended and when his firm header was only partially saved by John Davies, Martin Devaney celebrated his home debut by bundling the ball over the line.
Gresley looked no nearer to resolving the defensive problems which worried manager Frank Northwood in the opening two games and they were punished for their inadequacies in the 30th minute.
Teasdale floated over a free kick from near the right corner flag and a statuesque defence allowed Chris Morris to soar unchallenged at the far post to beat Austin with a ferocious header.
This time it took Rovers barely a minute to level the scores Alan Potts tripped the surging Dave King and Arthur seized the chance to score his first goal of the season from the penalty spot.
Gresley had appeals for a penalty rejected when Beresford’s header appeared to be handled but in the 41st minute won their second spot kick of the night.
Beresford was sliced down by Potts as he latched into a huge clearance from Austin and Arthur stepped up to beat Davies comprehensively with his 14th successful penalty out of 15 attempts since the start of last season.
Gresley reshuffled their defence, withdrawing the unhappy Ricky Hooman and switching Arthur to full back , but they could do nothing about the goal which gave Wolves the equaliser in the 57th minute.
There seemed no danger when John Rowley gained possession 30 yards out. Austin apparently thought likewise for he reacted much too late to do anything other than push a powerful rising drive into a corner of the net.
Again Gresley hit back with breathtaking haste to regain the lead in dazzling fashion two minutes later.
A brilliant move was started deep in his own territory by Rob Philpott and continued when Beresford’s head on sent Stringer dashing along the left flank.
With Wolves desperately attempting to reinforce their flagging defence, Stringer delivered a perfect cross that Devaney volleyed into the roof of the net from 5 yards.
The action was far from finished yet. Beresford squandered a chance to give Gresley a two goal cushion and Austin kept them in front with an astonishing save to deprive Rowley of his second goal of the night.
Nigel Barrows had a header cleared off the line before Rovers wrapped up the points with another superb goal in the last minute.
Philpott sliced open the Wolves’ defence with a superb 30-yard pass and this time Beresford made no mistake, holding off Potts before crashing a low drive of power and precision.
Gresley Rovers (3) 5
Wolverhampton United (2) 3
Scorers: Devaney 12, 59, Arthur 31 pen, 41 pen, Beresford 89(Gresley Rovers): Malcolm 9, Morris 30, Rowley 57 (Wolverhampton United).
