Gresley Rovers vs Westfields
New boy Joe is the hit man for Northwood – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Rovers boss Frank Northwood could barely conceal his delight after surprise signing Joe Jackson had struck the 62nd minute goal that maintained Gresley’s 100 per cent start to the new season.
The midfielder, signed from Willenhall and boasting First Division experience as a teenager with Wolves, achieved what Rovers fans were beginning to think was the possible by beating Westfield’s keeper Alan Riches with a far-post shot after Paul Acklam’s enterprise on the right had prompted a furious goal line melee.
Northwood had earlier sprung a shock by omitting Clive Arthur, a hat trick hero, the previous week, from his starting line-up.
But he admitted afterwards: “I dropped a clanger by leaving Clive out. He would have opened up the game for us. But I had to gamble because he was suspended next week and at the end of the day we got a result.”
The Rovers boss was barracked by fans when he withdrew the impressive Jackson with 15 minutes remaining but explained: “That lad hadn’t trained and he wasn’t match fit. But he’s a bit of class and he’ll give us something we haven’t had before in the middle.”
Jackson’s quality was apparent from the early stages as he helped Rovers dominate Westfields, the previous seasons Division One champions. But as Gresley’s industry created a string of chances Riches’ goal enjoyed a charmed life.
Paul Acklam shot wastefully wide after the industrious Jon Laws had turned Jackson’s through ball neatly into his path.
And when Martin Devaney netted a couple of minutes before the interval the effort was ruled out because Acklam had handled in the setting up of the chance.
But the normally lethal Devaney should really have put Gresley ahead two minutes later when Acklam’s ferocious drive fell into his path after bouncing back off the keeper’s chest.
Devaney had time to pick his spot from six yards but allowed Riches to somehow divert his shot over the bar.
The pattern remained much the same after half time but with Westfields gradually coming out of their shell, keeper Karl Austin was given the opportunity to prove he had fully recovered from a brutal first half assault by centre forward Brian Preece by saving impressively at the feet of first Joe Celozzi and then Mark Williams.
It seemed Rovers would never break the deadlock as chances continued to go to waste but the breakthrough came in the 62nd minute.
Jackson’s free kick was blocked but the ball broke wide to Acklam on the right and when Riches failed to hold onto the cross the ball pinged frantically about the six yard box until Jackson popped up on the left to joyously the decisive touch.
The new man was withdrawn soon after and modestly refused to take much credit afterwards despite the accolades of Gresley’s delighted fans.
The former Bilston and Hednesford play-maker, who made his First Division debut at 18 under Jim Barron at Molyneux, said; “It was nice to score on my debut but I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. I’m hoping to score some much better goals than that for Rovers.”
And if Gresley’s recognised strikers continue to leave their scoring boots in the dressing room like they did on Saturday, he’ll have to!
Gresley Rovers (0) 1
Westfields (0) 0
Scorer: Jackson 62.
Gresley Rovers: Austin, Dick, K Williams, Acklam, Dolby, Lovell, Jackson (Bottomley 74), Laws, Hill, Devaney, Bromley.
Westfields: Riches, K Powell, Davies, P Powell (Mallender 81), Sockett, Emery, Hardcastle, M Williams, Preece, Booton, Celozzi.
Gresley Man-of-the-match: Karl Austin.
Referee: I C Murray (Walsgrave).
Attendance: 318
