Gresley Rovers vs Tividale
Rob’s goal target – Burton Mail
Midfielder Rob Philpott has made a new year resolution aimed at giving Gresley Rovers’ title challenge a shot in the arm.
The hard working Philpott scored the goal which helped lift at least some of the Boxing Day blues at the Moat Ground on Saturday – then promised to boost his goal tally in 1987.
His sweetly-struck 43rd minute volley which sunk stubborn Tividale was only his third goal of the season and he knows he could do better.
“To be honest I know it’s one of the weaknesses of my game,” admitted Philpott. “It was good to see the ball go in the net – volleys are never easy – and I’d certainly like to think I can score more goals in the second half of the season.”
Philpott’s energetic midfield running was one of the few plusses from a Gresley performance which showed that the scars from that Boxing Day mauling were still smarting.
The extent of the damage to morale those three Atherstone goals inflicted was confirmed by Philpott: “It was a job to lift us for this game – confidence is very low at the moment,” he said.
But with the lessons of last season’s Boxing Day defeat against the Adders still fresh in everyone’s mind Philpott has far from conceded the title: “There’s a long way to go yet and I’m sure we can overtake them.”
Tividale were hardly ideal opponents for a side struggling to rebuild a shattered fortress, but it says much for the Moatmen’s durability that they were able to pick up two points.
For the most part they were like a car trying to pull away from traffic lights with the handbrake still on and obstinate Tividale refused to make life easy by surrendering tamely.
Typical of the frustration was the performance of recalled Kevin Banton who had age, weight and speed on his marker Les Prosser but never once got the better of the wily veteran full back.
In fact the only time Banton settled for a direct cross without trying to beat Prosser first the end result was a goal.
Keeper Mark Adams unconvincingly punched the floated cross and the alert Philpott eagerly seized the opportunity to drive home a crisp volley from the edge of the box.
Martin Devaney and the excellent Ian Pearsall went close in the first half, but after the break chances were scarce as the visitors often threatened to embarrass a sluggish Rovers defence.
Gresley Rovers (1) 1
Tividale (0) 0
Scorer: Philpott 43.
Gresley Rovers: Austin, Earley, Bromley (Arthur 66), Pearsall, Dolby, Devaney, Taylor, Philpott, Laws, Beresford, Banton.
Tividale: Adams, Prosser, Noakes, Hickman, Blunt, Kettle, English, Ingram, Guest, Hill, Bennett. Sub. Harrison 82.
Rovers man-of-the-match: Ian Pearsall.
Referee: D Lee (Pelsall).
Attendance: 296
