GKN Sankey vs Gresley Rovers
Sloppy Rovers draw a blank – Rex Page – Burton Mail
If Gresley are to go anywhere near fulfilling their ambition of winning the Banks’s West Midlands League Premier Division title, they can ill afford many more afternoons such as the one they suffered in Shropshire on Saturday.
The Gresley goal machine which contemptuously chewed up one defence after another in a dazzling nine game run finally ground it’s way to a standstill at GKN’s impressive Castle Street stadium.
To say that Rovers’ performance was dire would probably be an over reaction to being deprived of another goal feast.
But at very best their form was no better than modest and for much of the time they had only a mediocre contribution to make. It was a hotch-potch of a match, riddled with errors and only occasionally producing interludes of creative football.
GKN, of course, left the pitch satisfied that their honest endeavour had been rewarded – but quite frankly a Gresley team at the peak of its form would surely have buried them without trace.
Rovers rarely resembled a side on the crest of a wave of success. They lacked cohesion both in midfield and attack and, more disturbingly, there were times when they didn’t appear to be terribly bothered whether they won or lost.
Perhaps the departure of Brian Attley unsettled them. Or perhaps, he was an even bigger influence on their style of play than most of us realised.
Whatever the cause of this sudden lapse, Gresley quickly need to put matters to right as they embark on a run of four successive home games, all of which must be won if their title challenge is to stand even the remotest chance of succeeding.
It was just as well on Saturday that their defence functioned properly, for if the malaise had spread to that department too, they probably have been beaten.
Steve Dolby played with massive authority at the heart of the defence, while Ian Earley again gave an assured and confident display at full back.
Strangely, it was an error by Gresley, which almost allowed GKN to snatch a fourth minute lead. Glen West’s misdirected header gave Steve Kelly a shooting chance 12 yards out, but Karl Austin, anticipating danger, produced the first of two vital saves.
There were few other threats to either goal in the first half, which ended in Austin’s opposite number still wondering whether his presence was really necessary.
Gresley’s only real of promise came midway through the second half. Dave King battling to instil life into Gresley’s labouring midfield, set up a sweeping move, but it ended with Clive Arthur shooting hurriedly wide from the edge of the area.
Then, in the 73rd minute, Arthur’s chip into the area gave Brian Beresford a rare glimpse of goal, but his header was turned over by Andy Spooner.
Rovers introduced Kevin Banton in place of Robert Philpott, but it was GKN who came the nearest to winning the game, Austin having to stretch himself to get a fingertip to a sizzling right foot volley from Mark Rogers.
GKN Sankey (0) 0
Gresley Rovers (0) 0
GKN Sankey: Spooner, Moore, Childs, Grass, Teece, Warrilow, Rogers, Eccleston, Comerford, Kelly, Lochrie. Sub: Sankey.
Gresley Rovers: Austin, Earley, Bromley, West, Dolby, King, Arthur, Laws, Priest, Beresford, Philpott (Banton 82).
Referee: A A Smith (Coventry).
