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Story courtesy of Rex Page - Burton Mail
A wind of change is blowing through the Moat Ground in the wake of Gresley Rovers’ FA Vase exit at Newcastle.
Goalkeeper Bob Aston and striker Carl Rathbone were summarily dismissed by manager Frank Northwood in midweek – and the only surprise among Rovers followers was that the Gresley boss’s shake-up was not more far-reaching.As many as four players were rumoured to be on Northwood ‘hit’ list, but for the time being at least the veteran Aston and out-of-form Rathbone are the only victims.
Their departures gives two players who have waited patiently in the wings the chance to establish themselves as first-team regulars.
Goalkeeper Tony Moore will be particularly eager to prove his worth after spending most of his career in the shadows.
Moore spent two years with Burton Albion but never sniffed a first-team place as Nick Goodwin embarked on a run of successive appearances now well over the 200-mark.
And a move to the Moat Ground proved no more beneficial two years ago as Aston made the No1 position his own.
Said Northwood: “Tony has always done well for me when Bob has missed the odd game through injury and he has earned the chance to become a first-teamer.”
Up front Kieron Smith is the obvious choice to replace Rathbone.
Smith was Gresley’s Player-of-the-Year during Gresley’s epic Wembley campaign, but struggled to find his form at the start of this season and found himself on the fringes when evergreen Brian Beresford burst back on the Moat Ground scene with a flurry of goals.
Northwood said: “Kieron has waited patiently and it’s time to give him the chance to prove he can do a better job than Rathbone.”
