Devaney’s a dazzler – Richard Whitehead – Burton Mail
Star striker Martin Devaney has pinpointed the reasons behind Gresley Rovers’ charged start to the season – character and determination.
Devaney, the man bravely shouldering the bulk of Rovers’ goal scoring burden in the absence of Brian Beresford, is convinced Frank Northwood’s 1987-88 Gresley squad has what it takes to succeed where last years model failed.
After drilling home his sixth goal of the campaign to help sink the spirited challenge of Malvern Town and make it eight league wins in a row. Devaney spoke of the Moat Ground dressing room.
“There is a better attitude and spirit among the players this season,” he said. “The new lads who have been brought in have fitted in really well on and off the field.”
But he sounded a cautionary note about the testing months ahead.
“The current run is fantastic but the real test will come when we do eventually drop some points. In retrospect getting knocked out of the FA Cup early wasn’t a bad thing – the only thing that matters is getting Southern League Midland football here next season.”
Devaney’s words about what will happen when that 100 per cent record ends might have spoken with next Saturday’s crucial four-pointer against Oldbury United in mind.
But another two points from that clash would give Rovers a really solid platform from which to launch their championship challenge and also take them one step nearer to bettering the club’s best ever start to the league season – 11 consecutive Leicester Senior League wins in 1947-48.
Win number eight on Saturday turned into possibly the most difficult yet with Malvern marking to good effect at the back and breaking with dangerous intent up-front.
It took a move of quite stunning brilliance to open them up after 20 minutes. Devaney fed the impressive Martin Mackenzie wide on the right then ran on intelligently to meet the midfielder’s floated cross with a clinical volley.
Encouraged by their stability at the back, Malvern became more adventurous after half time and the destiny of the points was effectively decided by two missed opportunities inside four minutes around the hour mark.
First Joey Rawle’s header was magnificently clawed over the bar by debutant keeper Bob Aston then Graham Jones directed another header just wide – and Gresley heeded the warning signals.
Full back Mark Bromley charged forward on the left and caught keeper Mark Hingley hopelessly wrong-footed with a swerving cross which dipped into the net over his flailing arms.
Gresley Rovers (1) 2
Malvern Town (0) 0
Scorers: Devaney 20, Bromley 74.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Dick, Bromley, Lovell, Dolby, French, Jackson, Laws, Bottomley, Devaney, Mackenzie. Sub: Arthur.
Malvern Town: Hingley, Russell, Kerby, Maverley, Burton, Hayes, Aldington, Mogfera, Jones, Scullion, Rawle. Sub: Lowe.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Martin Mackenzie.
Referee: P Stakes (Rugeley).
Attendance: 327
