Gresley Rovers vs Shepshed Charterhouse X1
Beza’s back – Rex Page – Burton Mail
Brian Beresford finally ended his pre-season goal drought as Rovers’ boss Frank Northwood reshuffled his pack to come up with another winning formula at the Moat Ground last night.
Beresford, struggling to find the touch which has yielded more than 70 goals in two seasons at Gresley assured Rovers of victory in the 74th minute.
But it was not a goal to rate among the best in his long and profitable career.
Beresford looked comfortably offside as he stole in at the far post to accept a chance set up by John Laws.
It contrasted sharply with the 15th minute goal scored by Keith Hill, the man who could partner him in attack when Gresley’s Banks’s League programme gets underway on August 15th.
Hill began the game with a glaring miss, smashing a ten-yard shot against the bar after latching on to Neil Lovell’s pass and rounding the keeper.
But he more than made amends when he twisted onto Neil Mason’s clever chip and guided a superb angled shot into the far corner. It was his third goal in as many games.
Shepshed, fielding virtually their entire reserve team, snatched a surprise equaliser in the 52nd minute. Mattams centre from the left allowing Hession to beat trialist keeper Ricardo Iafigliola with a free header.
But Rovers regained control when John Bottomley was introduced in midfield as part of a crop of substitutions.
He immediately made his mark with a surging run and centre from which Hill squandered the chance to add to his pre-season tally and took matters into his own hands in the 67th minute by restoring Gresley’s lead with a sizzling right foot volley from the edge of the box.
Gresley Rovers (1) 3
Shepshed Charterhouse X1 (0) 1
Scorers: Hill 15, 67, Beresford 74 (Gresley Rovers): Hession 52 (Shepshed Charterhouse).
Gresley Rovers from: Iafgliola, Bottomley, Dick,Williams,Wilcox,Bromley, Lovell, Beresford, Laws, Mason,Hill,Arthur,Devaney, Mallaburn, Skeemer.
