Gresley Rovers vs Paget Rangers
Rangers revenge – Rex Page – Burton Mail
What a difference a month makes at the Moat Ground!
In the second week of the season Gresley Rovers strolled to a comfortable FA Cup win over Paget Rangers.
But it was a much different story last night as the Sutton Coldfield outfit stormed to an emphatic victory in the Banks’s League Premier Division.
Gresley’s creaking defence was torn to shreds by the pace, skill and precision of Paget frontrunners Wayne Scally, Derek Christopher, and Robert Benjamin.
With the Cup again looming large – Rovers visit Hinckley Town in the second qualifying round on Saturday – it was a spine-chilling setback for the Moatmen.
The electrifying pace of the Paget attack proved an instant problem for a feeble Gresley defence.
The referee failed to spot an offside decision and the error allowed Scally to send Benjamin sprinting into the area, where Bob Aston saved superbly at the feet of the winger.
Rovers’ only real chance of the first half came in the 22nd minute. Richard Denby’s free kick found a gaping hole in the Paget defence and Paul Fernihough, sliding into the six-yard box, just failed to make contact.
It was only a matter of time, however, before the visitos went in front – and the goal they had threatened duly arrived in the 36th minute.
Eric Sandiford’s pass gave Christopher the chance to skip past Dean Page on the right and clip his centre to the far post where the unmarked Steve Jones scored with the simplest of headers.
Rovers went further behind in the 39th minute. Fernihough seemed to be fouled as Saniford hustled him off the ball, but the referee allowed play to continue and in his anxiety to make a clearance Page looped the ball into the roof of his own net. John Bottomley moved to centre half to replace the limping Fernihough after the interval, but despite his considerable efforts he was unable to stem the tide of Paget attacks.
Jones’s cross shot slithered through the hands of Aston and thumped against the bar and, with Gresley still against the ropes, the keeper produced the save of the night to deny Benjamin.
There was no escape for Rovers, however, in the 57th minute. They were caught short of cover when Steve Whipps released a magnificent pass, catching Peter Perry out of position and allowing Benjamin to steam through and beat Aston.
Rovers only made headway when Paget eased their foot off the accelerator in the closing stages, but their injury-time goal was still more than they deserved. David Okari needlessly handled in the area and substitute Andy Moore accepted the chance to score his third goal of the campaign from the spot.
Gresley Rovers (0) 1
Paget Rangers (2) 3
Scorers: Moore (pen) 91 (Gresley Rovers); Jones 36, Page (og) 39; Benjamin 57 (Paget Rangers).
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Beattie, Perry, Denby, Fernihough (Lovell 45), Page, Fearn (Moore 54), Bottomley, Oldershaw, Astley, Smith.
Paget Rangers: Wilding, Okari, Corrance, Piggott, Link, Jones, Scally, Whipps, Sandiford (Hunter 79), Christopher, Benjamin. Sub not used: Dwane.
Gresley man-of-the-match: John Bottomley.
Referee: L Watson (Coventry).
Attendance: 347
