Oldbury United vs Gresley Rovers
Rovers goals do the talking – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers made the perfect start to their Banks’s League campaign at Oldbury last night, yet their joy was strangely muted afterwards.
Goals from United old boy Steve Astley and debutant Chris Craddock gave Rovers maximum return from last season’s runners-up, yet in truth the visitors were so markedly the better side that their was justifiable disappointment that Oldbury hadn’t been buried in goals.
Winger Keiron Smith and second half substitute Keith Hill could have inflicted brutal punishment on a hesitant Oldbury defence but in the end Rovers had to live on their nerves until the final kick.
Astley, back on the ground where he enjoyed two championship chasing seasons, would have been especially aggrieved if the Moatmen had let this one slip out of the bag.
His crisp 15th minute opener, shot powerfully home from 16 yards after Craddock’s run and Ian Wells’ classy lay off had sliced open the home defence, relieved all the early pressure. “I was dead pleased to score,” admitted the big utility player, who partnered Wells up front after featuring mainly in midfield or defence in pre-season.
Oldbury were generally disappointing but had their moments, Peter Perry and Dean Page both clearing off the line before the break.
Rovers, though, orchestrated by the outstanding Richard Denby, had better chances both in quality and quantity, the former Alfreton midfielder twice setting up winger Keiron Smith with deep, curling crosses from the left.
Control failed the close season recruit from Huthwaite on one occasion in front of goal, then keeper John Carmichael blocked a close range effort as his defence stood like statues.
Rovers skipper Bob Aston, restored in goal at the expense of the unfortunate Simon Harrison, saved well to prevent complete embarrassment after his poor kick came back off Perry’s heel to give Graham Jones a shooting chance, then Page headed from under the bar from the centre forward’s corner. Perry had earlier come to the rescue when the keeper lost another left wing cross.
Oldbury’s sharpest striker finally gained his reward nine minutes after the turnaround when he found his powerful run through the centre uninterrupted by any Gresley tackle and gratefully potted a curling 20-yarder inside Aston’s left post.
Gresley needed a quick response and, amazingly, got one when Craddock was allowed to burst through a static six yard box to head Denby’s searching left wing corner powerfully past Carmichael.
Aston foiled Jones again with his legs when Rovers were found wanting – not for the first time – on their right flank, but Gresley’s defensive shortcomings were nothing to compare with Oldbury’s and Hill, set up twice by Denby and then by Wells, had ample opportunity to settle the issue.
A spot of indecision by Dave Beattie allowed Steve Bowater to fire a 20-yarder just outside the target, but there was still time for Hill to miss yet another chance, allowing Carmichael to save at the foot of a post after Aston’s prodigious kick upfield.
The result, though, was good enough. Said Astley: “We didn’t play as well as we can and Oldbury were unlucky not to score more than just one. But we missed chances too and we battled well.”
Oldbury United (0) 1
Gresley Rovers (1) 2
Scorers: Jones 54 (Oldbury United); Astley 15, Craddock 56 (Gresley Rovers).
Oldbury United: Carmichael, Morris, Humphries, Evans (Hosburgh 72), Vowels, Swinhoe, Bowater, Norton, Bullock, Jones, Unitt. Perrins.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Beattie, Perry, Denby, Skeemer, Page, Fearn (Lovell 55), Craddock, Wells, Astley, Smith (Hill 53).
Gresley man-of-the-match: Richard Denby.
Referee: H J Underwood (Redditch).
Attendance: 220
