Tividale vs Gresley Rovers
Astley is man of the moment – David Lawrence – Burton Mail
Gresley’s Steve Astley gave his Black Country opponents a lesson in finishing last night to steer the Moatmen to a conclusive second victory of the season in the Banks’s League Premier Division.
He bagged two of Rovers’ goals and would have been claiming a hat trick had a Tividale defender not beaten him to the touch.
By the end of the evening, Astley had taken his tally to five in three games – excellent preparation for Saturday’s FA Cup clash with Paget Rangers.
Gresley could not have wished for a better start when after just four minutes, Keiron Smith crossed from the right and defender Anthony Ryan nodded the ball past his own keeper with Astley poised just inches away.
The Moatmen continued to push with Jack Oldershaw instrumental in many of their moves. But they failed to capitalise on their opponent’s lack of pace at the back.
Oldershaw and Smith did have chances and home keeper Mick Stride did well to keep the half time deficit down to just a single goal.
Gresley added to their tally early in the second half when Astley turned and shot from the edge of the area and from then they played some delightful football.
Midway through the half Oldershaw, already denied by the Tividale keeper, let fly with a sizzling shot that brought out an outstanding save from Stride who tipped the ball onto the ball before bravely diving at the feet of Astley.
But the Black Country goal minder was unable to stop Gresley’s third – Astley rising above the rest to head home.
By now Gresley were relentless as they looked to increase their lead even further, Astley shot inches wide and Smith’s header was cleared off the line as the Moatmen pushed forward.
But their attacking ploy back fired seven minutes from time when Stride’s goal kick was flicked on by Steve Hulston and David Brookes volleyed in from the edge of the box.
Tividale (0) 1
Gresley Rovers (1) 3
Scorers: Brookes 83 (Tividale): Ryan (o.g.) 4, Astley 51, 71 (Gresley Rovers).
Tividale: Stride, Blunt, Habblett, Bradley, Ryan, Brookes, Kettle, Lowe (Jessop 59), Hill, Harrison, Hulston. Sub not used: Gwinnell.
Gresley Rovers: Harrison, Beattie, Craddock, Denby, Fernihough, Page, Oldershaw, Lovell (Fearn 81), Wells, Astley, Smith (Hill 72).
Gresley man-of-the-match: Jack Oldershaw.
Referee: K Rzepkovski (Great Barr, Birmingham).
Attendance: 125
