Gresley Rovers vs Oldbury United
Final flourish – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Sparkling Gresley carved out their own little piece of cup history at the Moat Ground last night.
High riding Oldbury may be challenging along with Rovers for league honours, but were left in no doubt of Rovers’ extra class and commitment after the two sides’ third meeting in as many weeks.
Two goals apiece from Guy Hall and top scorer Brian Beresford sent Gresley strolling into the Banks’s League Cup final for the first time in their history and left manager Frank Northwood purring with delight.
“We played ever so well tonight,” said Northwood afterwards. “We’re in the final now – and it doesn’t bother me who we play.”
Rovers final opponents will be decided tomorrow evening when league leaders Atherstone and Rushall Olympic play their semi-final, second leg.
Rushall hold a 1-0 lead from the first game, but on this form Rovers won’t care who they meet.
Quickly stepping into fluent forward gear, Rovers could have been two goals ahead in the first five minutes.
Beresford, put clear by Gary Steven’s astute flick, shot over with only the keeper to beat then Stevens himself lofted a shot over from a good position.
These were worrying misses, bearing in mind Oldbury’s feared firepower, but the errors faded into insignificance after 14 minutes.
Clive Arthur’s free kick from the right was cleared but the winger was able to stay onside as the visitor’s defence rushed out.
John Bottomley knocked the ball wide again and Arthur crossed to the far post where Guy Hall charged in to plant a diving header past Jeff Allard.
It was a stunning blow for Oldbury but the Black Country side found themselves dead and buried ten minutes later. Full back Keith Humphries, trying to find Allard under pressure from Stevens, played the ball straight to Martin Devaney and Beresford was waiting unmarked in the middle to clinically despatch Rovers’ second of the night and the fourth of the tie.
Oldbury weren’t prepared to lie down and the highly rated David Morrison forced Karl Austin to turn a shot against the angle of bar and post.
Minutes later the centre forward gave Oldbury a glimmer of hope when he shot home after a goalmouth scramble.
But any faint chances that United may have had to salvage a final place were truly wrecked after the break as Rovers became irrepressible.
Beresford scored again with a bullet header from Stevens’ corner on 54 minutes, Devaney saw a shot scrambled off the line and as Oldbury’s defence threatened to collapse completely, Beresford and Stevens made patterns down the left.
Devaney pulled the ball back from the bye line and Hall blasted home a low shot from six yards with 17 minutes remaining.
Gresley Rovers (2) 4
Oldbury United (1) 1
Gresley win 6-2 on aggregate.
Scorers: Hall 14, 73 Beresford 24, 54 (Gresley Rovers): Morrison 37 (Oldbury United).
Gresley Rovers: Austin, Bottomley, Williams, Hall, Dolby, Bromley, Arthur (Earley 51), Philpott, Stevens, Beresford, Devaney.
Oldbury United: Allard, Walton, Humphries, Nicklin (Burford 16), Vowles, Astley, Secker, Norton, Morrison, Francis.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Gary Stevens.
Referee: M J Brandwood (Chase Terrace).
Attendance: 458
