Earl Shilton vs Gresley Rovers
Almost there – Rex Page – Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers’ boss Frank Northwood moved decisively nearer to settling on his team for the opening game of the Banks’s League campaign.
From a massive roll call of 39 players, Northwood is close to putting the finishing touches to his 1987-88 model.
With Karl Austin now happily restored as the No 1 keeper at the Moat Ground and a back four and attack which more or less pick themselves – Brain Beresford’s eye injury permitting – it is only the midfield department which will tax Northwood’s mind in the next few days.
Neil Lovell, imported from Northern Counties (East) football, seized Saturday’s trip to make another contribution in a victory which came rather more easily than Rovers probably expected against a robust Earl Shilton side.
Who will partner the pocket battleship, however, still appears to be open to debate.
Barry Wilcox, apparently having failed to impress Northwood as a central defender, struggled to impose his height and strength on his new role and Jon Laws was typically frustrating mixture of good, bad and very bad.
Still, Northwood left for home secure in the knowledge that Martin Dick has helped to make Rovers an even tougher side to score against.
He was the pick of the defence which coped comfortably with the Earl Shilton attack until they were distracted by a dispute over a throw in, allowing the Leicestershire side to steal into a 52nd minute lead.
Gresley’s response was a suitably angry one, taking them all of three minutes to level the score.
A good goal it was too. Keith Hill linked with Lovell to set up the chance for Clive Arthur to score with a powerful right foot shot from the edge of the area.
Gresley nosed in front on the 72nd minute when Dick’s deep cross from the right gave mark Bromley the chance to chip the ball into the area for Laws to score from close range header.
And Martin Devaney took his pre-season tally to five in the 89th minute when he made sure that trialist Jevon Payne’s apparently goal bound shot would not be wasted.
Earl Shilton (0) 1
Gresley Rovers (0) 3
Scorers: ? 52 (Earl Shilton); Arthur 55, Laws 72, Devaney 89 (Gresley Rovers).
Gresley Rovers: Austin, Dick, Williams, Bromley, Dolby, Lovell, Arthur, Loftus, Hill, Devaney, Laws. Subs used: Mallaburn, Wilcox, Payne.
