Gresley Rovers vs Tipton Town
Gresley get it together – David Lawrence – Burton Mail
How naïve it was that two shattering defeats and the influx of new blood would lead to a hungrier Gresley Rovers at the Moat Ground last night.
Instead it took some rousing words from the management team at half time and the inclusion of skilful Neil Lovell to spur the side into action and provide a second half performance reminiscent of last season’s great displays.
Things started well enough with the Moatmen dominating early exchanges against a Tipton side devoid of ideas and relying on former Walsall star, 46-year-old George Andrews to set the pace up front.
Town keeper, Tracy Davies did well to save shots from Keith Hill and Steve Astley in the first ten minutes and the latter then thundered another just too high.
But the visitors survived and had a chance to sneak a goal 15 minutes when Steve Shettlewood rammed in a free kick that brought off a good save from Bob Aston.
Despite the scoreline, Davies was emerging as Tipton’s star player and his fingertip save turned Andy Moore’s shot over the bar midway through the half.
Though still not firing on all cylinders, Gresley took the lead after 37 minutes when Martin Dick’s through ball found Kieron Smith in space. The winger was about to knock the ball home when grabbed by the keeper and wrestled to the ground.
The referee pointed to the spot and Moore thundered home his second successful penalty of the season.
But if Davies was to blame for his clumsy foul that lead to the goal he again saved his side moments before the break gathering Smith’s shot after Pages’s dazzling run.
Gresley had spent most of the first half threatening to overrun Tipton’s frail defence only for moves to break down in front of goal. But when Lovell replaced the disappointing Ian Wells early in the second half, Tipton’s brought more width to the game.
Backed up by Richard Denby, the Moatmen looked like adding to their tally and this they did ten minutes into the half.
Hill’s right wing cross was flicked on by Smith and Astley shot home past the unguarded keeper.
Smith shot wide and Dick too high as the Black Country outfit were penned in their own half. Denby was replaced in midfield by Paul Fernihough and the former Rocester man added to Tipton’s problems when he added a third, slotting Moore’s cross home.
Bookings for Dick and page in the final ten minutes took the shine from the second half performances but Gresley were left with the last laugh when John Bottomley spotted Moore making a run and the forward skilfully rounded the keeper to complete the rout.
Gresley Rovers (1) 4
Tipton Town (0) 0
Scorers: Moore 37(pen), 90; Astley 55, Fernihough 77.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Bromley, Dick, Denby (Fernihough 73), Page, Haskins, Moore, Hill, Wells (Lovell 48), Astley, Smith.
Tipton Town: Davies, Powell, Kellford, Mullinder, Moroney, Cook, Shettlewood, Probert, Warmer, Andrews (Blundell 78), Cookson. Sub not used: Garrington.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Steve Astley.
Attendance: 260
