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Bezza spots Vase danger
Story courtesy of Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers step into the unknown tomorrow with a word of warning from their most experienced player.
Much-travelled striker Brian Beresford recently traded his normal goal-grabbing duties to assume the guise of soccer spy at the Broadwater home of FA Vase opponents Berkhampsted Town.And Beresford – sidelined by injury at the time but an almost certain starter for tomorrow’s third round tie in deepest Buckinghamshire – came back with a serious message for his team mates after seeing Town hammer high-riding Metropolitan Police 3-0 in a Diadora League Division Two clash.
Beresford warned: “If you look at their league form it’s been mediocre so far – but they have lifted their game for Vase ties.”
Berkhamstead have so far disposed of Jewson Easter League Soham 1-0 and Harwich & Parkeston – beaten 2-0 in last season’s quarter-final by Gresley – 2-1 – to reach the last 64.
And Beresford said: “You can’t dismiss any side that’s reached this stage of the competition.”
Beresford and Keith Milner – the former Moat Ground coach who shared his spying mission – pinpointed top scorer Gary Harthill as the player Rovers must snuff out if they are to make progress.
“He’s their danger man,” warned Beresford. “You could see straight away from his first touch what a good player he was. He’s their top scorer despite playing in midfield and he showed why against the Police by scoring twice. He’s not a big lad but he’s capable of taking players on so we’ve got to be aware to that danger.”
Beresford said: “In fact, we learned a great deal from our trip to Buckinghamshire and we’ll be having a good chat about it with the lads before the game.
“The main thing is that, if we play to our ability, we can make progress. But there will be no room for complacency.”
