Oldswinford vs Gresley Rovers
Super Gresley on cloud nine – Richard Whitehead – Burton Mail
Rovers boss Frank Northwood watched his rampant side blast nine goals past Oldswinford – then stepped up his search for new strikers.
The ruthless demolition of Oldswinford had been over for barely ten minutes when Northwood started plotting the downfall of Malvern Town t the Moat next Saturday.
“Paul Acklam starts two week’s holiday this week so I’m going to have to make changes up front,” he explained. “It could be that I’ll be bringing someone in or Ill make changes with the players we have available.”
But Northwood’s desire to immediately start thinking about securing the next points couldn’t mask his satisfaction at this remarkably professional performance.
“Oldswinford were a very poor side but you still have to go out and beat them,” he said. “It was a very good, all round team performance. The lads are getting better all the time and obviously growing in confidence.”
However, what must have pleased the Moat Ground chief about this victory was the sheer professionalism of the performance.
Forced to play at Bloxwich AFC’s shabby Abbey Park ground on an appalling pitch and on a filthy day, it was exactly the sort of test of character that sorts out the true championship contenders from early season flatterers.
But Gresley came through all that – and even the shock of going behind – to clinically destroy Oldswinford with football of occasionally breathtaking quality.
Joe Jackson ran the midfield with the panache of an orchestral conductor on the last night of the Proms while around him John Laws, Neil Lovell and impressive newcomer Martin Mackenzie provided both industry and the invention that the machine needed to keep slickly ticking over.
Mark Reeve’s astonishing 35 yard half-volley over Karl Austin capitalised on some lack of concentration at the back but once Laws had slammed home a 21st minute penalty to equalise there was never any doubt about the destiny of the points.
Acklam turned home Martin Devaney’s low cross in the 29th minute to secure a half time lead and in the second half Oldswinford’s resistance just crumbled.
Two close range Devaney headers within ten minutes of the restart began the avalanche and before the hour Mark Mackenzie had opened his account with a skidding low drive from the edge of the area.
Lovell scored the afternoon’s best goal with a magnificent swerving half-volley then drilled in a low shot to make it seven.
Lovell turned provider then a Devaney completed his hat trick with a mis-hit shot and in injury time Mackenzie’s volley ballooned up invitingly off keeper David Ansen for Devaney to head home his fourth.
Oldswinford (1) 1
Gresley Rovers (2) 9
Scorers: Reeve 3 (Oldswinford): Laws (pen) 21, Acklam 29, Devaney 46, 54, 80, 90, Mackenzie 58, Lovell 64,76 (Gresley Rovers).
Oldswinford: Ansen. Gibson, Fathers, Ryan, Wildbear, Giles, Brookes, Marsh, Millinchip, Mele, Reeve. Sub: Highams.
Gresley Rovers: Austin, Dick, Bromley, Lovell, Dolby, French, Jackson, Laws, Acklam, Devaney, Mackenzie: Sub: Bottomley.
Gresley Man-of-the-match: Joe Jackson.
Referee: G Singh (Wolverhampton).
Attendance: 30
