Harrison's vs Gresley Rovers
Acklam brace gives Gresley need points - Andy Parker - Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers battled against the odds to achieve an improbable and, perhaps, slightly flattering 3-0 Saturday scoreline.
Great Wyrley-based Harrisons may not be the most gifted side in the Banks's League - indeed, that accolade probably belongs to the Moatmen - but you'd have to travel much further than half way down the A5 to find a more committed side.
This, along with a pitch resembling a soggy sample of last year's Christmas pudding and a match ball with the aerodynamic qualities of a flat party balloon, made for a hard afternoon's work for the league leaders.
Prospects were not improved by an enforced reshuffle that pitched full back Peter Perry into the heart of a three man midfield that initially offered the home side as much resistance as a seasonal cracker without a snap.
It was only after an alarming opening period in which keeper Bob Aston was forced to tip over defender Stuart Meeson's header after Steve Snaith's 25-yard free kick had rebounded off the crossbar that manager Frank Northwood made the adjustments necessary for a vital and ultimately satisfying victory.
Perry was deposited back in the left back position he holds best and adaptable Martin Dick moved forward to produce a crucial and often heroic performance in the heart of the team.
Dick, aside from snuffing out Harrisons' early menace with his pacey tackling, provided the pass for Rovers' opener. Paul Acklam controlling well before turning his marker and chipping superbly over stranded keeper Ranjid Singh.
It should have been two five minutes later when Acklam was hauled down in the box but referee Mr Smith inexplicably awarded an indirect free kick and Gresley were sentenced to a torrid second half.
Poor conditions proved a great leveller and it was not until the overdue introduction of substitute Graham Fearn that Harrisons were finally and comprehensively undone.
Acklam ballooned the net for his second after Singh had only parried a stinging shot from Graham Jones - that after a battling run onto a well created pass from Perry - then provided the cross 60 seconds later for Kieron Smith to glance in a header fro Gresley's third.
The final scoreline could have been even more emphatic had Jones not allowed Singh to make a diving save from the penalty spot in the 82nd minute after full back Kevin Wall had handled the striker's header on the line.
Harrisons (0) 0
Gresley Rovers (1) 3
Scorers: Acklam 39, 86; Smith 87.
Harrisons: Singh, Tongue, Wall, Matthews, Clarke, Meeson (Morris 70), Glaister, Craddock, Mair, Edwards, Smith. Sub not used: Cooper.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Fernihough, Dick, Perry, Haskins, Page, Moore (Fearn 68), Smith, Acklam, Wells, Jones. Sub not used: Guest.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Martin Dick.
Referee: J G Smith (Stafford).
Attendance: 140
