Gresley Rovers vs Wednesfield Social
Easy does it for slick Moatmen – Mike StJohn – Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers marched into the third round of the Banks’s Brewery League cup with the greatest of ease at the Moat Ground on Saturday.
Wednesfield did not pose any real threat as Brian Beresford bagged another brace, with the other goals coming from Clive Arthur and Martin Devaney.
Even the visitors’ highly-rated Sylvester Cunningham was off key as chances were squandered in the first half of this wind swept tie.
Rovers’ defence did a sterling job to keep the Wednesfield front men at bay, reducing the visitors ‘ early fire to a flicker.
Things looked ominous when Mark Bromley was booked after only four minutes for a foul on Simon Peach, who later went on to score.
Play was held up for a lengthy period as Peach was assisted of the field for further treatment, and then Gresley goalkeeper Karl Austin was hurt from the eventual free kick. Clive Arthur had a goal disallowed in the 18th minute when a close range shunt followed an infringement on Wednesfield goalkeeper Steve Chandler.
Gresley were a trifle lucky not to be trailing as centre forward Cunningham firstly powered over Dave Beattie’s cross from the right, and then glanced wide Don Bradbury’s inviting centre from the opposite flank.
Rovers came out of their moment of danger unscathed and took the lead through Arthur in the 26th minute.
Gresley won two corners on the left in succession. Arthur’s second flag kick flew into the area, Chandler flapped at it, and wind did the rest carrying the ball into the net.
It was a short-lived lead, for Wednesfield were on level terms a minute later.
Cunningham’s short ball from the left caught Ian Early out, and Peach showing no ill effects from his earlier knock, cracked it past Austin.
Martin Devaney regained Gresley’s lead when he scored a belting goal from 25 yards out, when at first a shot from that range looked over optimistic. But Devaney’s stab whistled over Chandler and screamed into the net.
Gresley, helped on by the wind, took advantage of the conditions and Beresford, who had just curled a shot wide was the player to do further damage.
For on the stroke of half time Beresford moved into lots of space to fire past Chandler in his own inimitable way and a sound 3-1 cushion had been created.
Beresford was on the mark six minutes into the second half and another well taken goal seemed to kill Wednesfield off.
Austin held the ball with great confidence when the visitors even looked dangerous but Wednesfield ran out of ideas and Gresley held firm.
Gresley Rovers (3) 4
Wednesfield Social (1) 1
Scorers: Arthur 26, Devaney 37, Beresford 45, 51 (Gresley Rovers); Peach 27 (Wednesfield).
Gresley Rovers: Austin, Bottomley, Early, Laws, Dolby, Bromley, Arthur, Philpott, Devaney (West 45), Beresford, Banton.
Wednesfield Social: Chandler, Beattie, Bradbury, Dawson, Prince, Sturgess, Peach (Parker 39), Hill, Cunningham, Folland, Moore.
Referee: B K Cowdrey (Dudley).
