Aero Lucas vs Gresley Rovers
Gresley off to a flyer at Aero – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Frank Northwood unveiled the fruits of a summer’s star searching on Saturday then promised: “There’s more where they came from.”
No fewer than seven new signings played varying roles as Gresley shook of the cobwebs of a close season’s inactivity with impressive ease. But manager Northwood explained afterwards that his team was short of another eight unavailables – including a further three newcomers.
Coach Phil Marandola reckons that Rovers’ roster of players is complete for the club’s most realistic shot yet of the Banks’s League title – almost.
“We’re one player short in my estimation,” said Marandola declining to say which area of the side needed strengthening.
Rovers fans who braved a torrential downpour to see their heroes in action were, however, pleased enough with what was on display.
New full back Dave Beattie, snatched by Northwood from rivals Wednesfield Social after two seasons of trying, was particularly impressive, and there were promising displays too, from ex-Alfreton midfielder Richard Denby before he retired injured at half time, winger Keiron Smith from Huthwaite and striker Ian Wells, a vastly experienced centre forward with a string of league appearances for Hereford United under his belt.
Wells’ instant control and measured distribution were eye-catching from the off. So was his glaring point-blank miss on six minutes as Rovers quickly took control against their Banks’s First Division hosts.
But if the newcomers were the early centre of attention “old boy” Keith Hill soon forced his way into the limelight, crisply converting Smith’s pass on the quarter hour after good work by yet another debutant, bulky midfielder Steve Astley, late of Oldbury United.
Astley had a cracking effort disallowed before Hill added a second after 30 minutes, diving to convert Beattie’s measured cross for the goal of the game. A minute later a cricket score seemed on the cards as Smith strode through a strangely unpopulated defensive zone to shoot home number three.
Northwood shuffled his pack after the break, though, and there was inevitable lessening in Gresley’s forward drive.
Reserve striker Cec Wain bludgeoned his way through to add a fourth, and that was the end to the scoring, although as Lucas proved the more fluent outfit in the final quarter keeper Bob Aston – skipper for the day – had to issue several reminders of his enduring excellence to deny the Wolverhampton works side any consolation.
Aero Lucas (0) 0
Gresley Rovers (3) 4
