Friday, 10th October 2008

News Archive

- Andy Parker – Burton Mail

27th November 1992
Two-goal hero Kieron Smith fired Gresley Rovers into the third round of the FA Vase this week – then revealed the motivating force behind his team’s epic victory over Rushden & Diamonds.

Said Smith: “The manager is more fired up than any of us.”

Smith struck two first half goals at a windswept Moat Ground on top of skipper Richard Denby’s free kick opener to give Steve Dolby’s team a half time lead that proved too much for talented Rushden.

And he said afterwards: “None of us should need motivating for Vase games after our trip to Wembley – but it’s Dolly more than anyone that wants us to get there again. He really gets us psyched up. When I took a knock just before the end tonight I really felt it. He is a big lad and he went right through me. But I kept thinking of what Dolly had been saying to us and I thought: ‘I’ve got to keep going.’

“But it’s a good spirit in the side again. We’ve had a few defeats and we came back from them – and that’s a lot to do with team spirit surely.”

Smith’s goals against Rushden – both predatory close-range efforts – delighted both the striker and team boss Dolby, who said: “I was very pleased for Kieron. He’s now starting to score goals from inside the six-yard box. We need a centre forward who can do that and it’s great to see.”

Confirmed Smith: “The goal I scored in our game at Rushden wouldn’t have gone in if things hadn’t been going for me – the ball was spinning away and it just curled back in – if your luck’s out those chances don’t go in. Dolly’s been telling me to get into the six-yard box and I’m pleased to do it because the goals have been going in again recently and I hope it keeps going.

“It’s too early yet to start thinking about Wembley again – we’ve just got to take each game as it comes. Rushden were a good side to knock out but the next game is going to be just as hard.”

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