Gresley Rovers vs Halesowen Harriers
Rovers returns in glory – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Steve Astley – Gresley Rovers’ prodigal son – made the most spectacular of returns to the Moat Ground on Saturday.
The big defender, who quit the club at the start of the season only to be readmitted to the fold by Frank Northwood recently, scored a long range winner for Rovers then declared: “It’s great to be back.”
Astley – one of the stars in Rovers’ march to Wembley last term – insisted: “Once you’ve played for Rovers you’re spoiled for anyone else. There’s just no-one else in this league to match Gresley for playing good football.”
Astley was a key figure as manager Frank Northwood fielded a reshuffled line-up with five at the back. But while Rovers dominated large spells against a youthful Halesowen side this was far from being a convincing win.
Keeper Simon Harrison, another returning old boy, missed a corner to present Harriers with a 14th-minute lead, midfielder Richard Sutton tapping in at the far post.
But Gresley were soon level through Kieron Smith after Paul Acklam knocked down a Richard Denby corner.
Rovers had two good chances to take the lead before the interval but they fell to players not noted for their finishing skills, full back John Barry heading Brian Beresford cross over and Richard Wardle firing just past the angle after a Beresford flick.
It was left to Astley to steal the honours, firing in a 25-yard shot that keeper Gary Adkins fumbled into the net.
Said Astley: “I hit it well enough but the keeper seemed to have it covered. Then he seemed to misjudge it and just got his fingertips to the ball instead of catching it. It was a great feeling to see it go in.”
After that it seemed Gresley might go on to complete a more convincing victory but the home side went strangely off the boil, leaving Harrison to secure the points with two excellent saves.
Gresley Rovers (1) 2
Halesowen Harriers (1) 1
Scorers: Smith 28, Astley 58 (Gresley Rovers); Sutton 14 (Halesowen Harriers).
Gresley Rovers: Harrison, Barry, Astley, Denby, Evans, Land, Wardle, Smith, Acklam (Weston 78), Beresford (King 75), Lovell.
Halesowen Harriers: Adkins, Nicholls, Henley, Marsden, Thompson, Sutton, Guise, Booth, Hardwick (Burford 67), McClean, Tomlinson (Foxall 87).
Gresley man-of-the-match: Gil Land.
Referee: A J Martin (Penkridge).
Attendance: 432
