Gresley Rovers vs Oldbury United
Laws turns on the heat – Burton Mail
Jon Laws blasted Gresley a step closer to their second successive runners-up spot – then vowed to find the consistency to help the club go one better next season.
Two-goal Laws was the inspiration behind Rovers’ third win in four meetings over fellow challengers Oldbury, but he was honest enough to admit afterwards that he doesn’t produce his dazzling best often enough.
“My form this season has been patchy to say the least,” he said. “I’ve tended to play one good game then follow it with four or five bad ones. I need to be more consistent – I know I can do it. It’s just a matter of working harder.”
There was no shortage of hard work in Laws’ superb performance against an Oldbury side who had been forced to concede in recent weeks that, despite what the league table says, they are not in the same class as the Moatmen.
Laws defied the stamina-sapping heat with his zestful forays down the right and the net result was that Rovers were able to make light of the absence of Brian Beresford, Gary Stevens and Clive Arthur.
In fact, the only possible criticism of the display was that it took Rovers until nine minutes from times to seal the points after Laws had set them on their way as early as the 13th minute.
Karl Austin’s lengthy drop kicks caused considerable panic in the league’s meanest defence in the first 20 minutes and it was from one such clearance that Laws beat two defenders to head home after the lively Des Parry had seen his shot only half saved by Oldbury keeper Jeff Allard.
Both Laws and Parry could have put the issue beyond doubt but Oldbury gradually recovered their defensive composure.
But with Steve Dolby at his commanding best, superbly policing the menace of Dave Morrison it became a question of when Gresley would score again.
And when they did the wait was worthwhile. Hughie Atkinson frankly contributed little from a wide midfield position but he reminded everybody of his quality by venomously bending a free kick over Oldbury’s defensive wall and into the right hand corner of the net.
Laws’ massive contribution to the victory was fittingly rewarded with a second goal when he raced unchecked into the box to blast home Martin Devaney’s low cross a minute from time.
Gresley Rovers (1) 3
Oldbury United (0) 0
Scorers: Laws 13, 89; Atkinson 81.
Gresley Rovers: Austin, Earley (Sales 27), Williams, Hall, Dolby, Bromley, Laws, Bottomley, Parry, Devaney, Atkinson.
Oldbury United: Allard, Walton, Humphries, Banks, Vowles, Astley, Secker, Norton, Morrison, Jones (Francis 67), East.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Jon Laws.
Referee: J L Godfrey (Chasewater).
Attendance: 320
