Paget Rangers vs Gresley Rovers
Rovers reject gets his sweet revenge – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Rovers reject Derek Christopher consigned Gresley to their biggest league defeat of the season on Saturday with the sort of form he was never able to produce at the Moat Ground.
Rovers signed Christopher from the Sutton Coldfield club two seasons ago after he capped a series of eye-catching displays by firing a hat trick past Frank Northwood’s side.
That turned out to be precisely three times as many goals as he was to score in his entire Rovers career.
But Christopher showed that he still had fire in his boots on Saturday by setting up two goals then rubbing it in with a third to send Gresley home in despair.
Manager Northwood summed the game up when he admitted afterwards: “We’ve been murdered. We didn’t show any character – we didn’t show anything.”
Rovers, shorn of much of their flair by injury to midfielder Richard Denby and veteran striker Brian Beresford, matched their hosts in the opening stages but gradually succumbed to Paget’s eagerness.
Striker Carlton Miller had a goal disallowed but soon made amends, firing home unchallenged after Rovers keeper Bob Aston had parried a Dave Campbell header from close in. The instigator was Christopher, with a darting right wing run and cross.
Rovers pushed for a leveller after the break but Christopher could do no wrong and, after cutting in from the left, he saw his 22-yard shot loop up off the back of Clive Westwood to leave Aston helpless.
Still Gresley pressed, but with less and less method about their approach, and, when they were caught on the break with three minutes left, inevitably it was the avengers Christopher who fired home the third.
Paget Rangers (1) 3
Gresley Rovers (0) 0
Scorers: Miller 42, Westwood 57, Christopher 87.
Paget Rangers: Clayton, Williams, Reeves, Haddon, Whittingham, Westwood, Paul, Gibbs, Miller, Christopher, Campbell. Subs not used: Morrison, Mulvey.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Barry, Dick, Wardle (Minton 45), Land, Evans, Weston, Rathbone, Acklam (Venning 64), Smith, Nuttall.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Martin Dick.
Referee: P Rejer (Tipton).
Attendance: 150
