Oldbury United vs Gresley Rovers
Four ploy joy for Moatmen – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers produced their most convincing display for several weeks to record an excellent win at the Cricketts last night.
Forced by injuries to field a reshuffled line-up with four in midfield, manager Frank Northwood was rewarded with a performance of cohesion and strength that was too much for in-form Oldbury to bear.
The home side were ripped apart in a one-sided first half, with only a string of narrow escapes saving them from being swept away in a deluge of goals.
Rovers went for their hosts’ throats from the off and only a goalline clearance foiled Paul Acklam when he headed Richard Denby’s corner goalwards in the third minute.
A breakthrough was not long coming, however, Oldbury, attempting to play football from the back, were hustled into error and Brian Beresford set up Neil Lovell for his third goal in three games, the midfielder coolly firing home from 12 yards.
Then Beresford set up a second, carrying Denby’s pass deep into Oldbury’s area and when keeper Steve Johnson challenged, the ball ran for Acklam to tap home at the foot of a post.
Johnson was more successful in blocking Denby’s effort after a superb move down the left, then spilled the ball on the edge of the box only for Paul Lippitt to clear Beresford’s firm shot off the line.
Richard Wardle, outstanding in Rovers’ midfield engine room, saw a header cleared off the line by ex-Rover Graham Jones, Acklam powered in a header from Lovell’s cross that Johnson saved superbly at the foot of a post, then Craig Weston headed a Beresford cross against the bar. The half-time whistle must have been music to Oldbury’s ears.
Rovers turned down the heat slightly after the break but snatched a third goal when Oldbury defender Clive Walker – a Gresley player himself last season – headed Weston’s cross past his own keeper under pressure from Lovell.
Oldbury pulled one back with a goal from Stan Jones, a wicked shot on the turn that flew into the top corner from 18 yards.
Oldbury United (0) 1
Gresley Rovers (2) 3
Scorers: S Jones 76 (Oldbury United); Lovell 8, Acklam 20, Walker (og) (Gresley Rovers).
Oldbury United: Johnson, Loughran, Lippitt, Bannister, Wakefield, G Jones, East, S Jones (Evans 65), Hill, Walker (Sorrell 65), Unitt.
Gresley Rovers: Harrison, Barry, Dick, Denby, Evans, Land, Wardle (Astley 78), Weston, Acklam, Bereford, Lovell. Sub not used: Meyer.
Gresley man-of-the-match: Richard Denby.
Referee: G R Hamblin (Birmingham).
Attendance: 147
