Tuesday, 14th October 2008

News Archive

- Andy Parker – Burton Mail

9th December 1988
Gresley Rovers are set to embark on the sternest test to date of their Banks’s Brewery League title aspirations.

Saturday’s performance at the happy hunting ground of Oldbury United produced the right result – a 2-1 League Cup quarter final win – but there were ominous signs for manager Frank Northwood and coach Steve Dolby.

Dolby has enjoyed phenomenal success as Northwood’s right hand man since taking over from Phil Marandola at the end of October.

In the ten games since then Rovers have dropped just two league points, have moved to the top of the league and advanced in the FA Vase.

Not only that, but their progress has been made in truly dazzling style. So what is there to suggest that this entirely happy state of affairs should not continue?

The English weather, that’s what.

Rovers were clearly uncomfortable in the wind, rain and mud of the Cricketts on Saturday. But conditions will get worse before they get better and that could seriously affect Rovers’ skilful, one-touch approach.

Keeper Bob Aston made a prophetic comment after the Oldbury win when I asked him how he and his colleagues had found the conditions.

“You can’t play 100 per cent football all of the time,” said the Rovers keeper. “It was a good workmanlike performance today.”

I have maintained for the past month that Rovers’ main title rivals, Paget Rangers, were not equipped to play their particular style of game in the ankle-deep mud of midwinter – and Saturday’s result at Lye – a 2-1 defeat – suggests that may be correct.

But we must wait and see if Rovers are similarly affected as the rain gets heavier and the mud gets deeper.

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Willenhall Pre-Match News

At home to:
Willenhall Town (UniBond President's Cup 2nd Round)

This evening, 7.45pm

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