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Nearly there!
Story courtesy of
Kieron Smith put Gresley halfway along Wembley Way with a two-goal strike against Littlehampton – then paid tribute to strike partners Paul Acklam and Carl Rathbone.
Smith’s goals gave Rovers a precious 3-1 advantage to take into tomorrow’s FA Vase semi-final second leg on the South Coast.But as he relived his moments of glory he was quick to praise his attacking colleagues.
“The first was a super ball from Rathbone. He floated the ball over and I anticipated it going over the defender. I think he should have cut it out really but he didn’t and I hit it just right. The second one was a good cross by Steve Adcock that causght the keeper out of position.
“Paul Acklam had already sent me to the near post so I was in the right place at the right time.
“Paul talks all the time and if he goes to the far post he sends me to the near. We play well together and he should take his share of the credit for that goal as well.”
Manager Frank Northwood is backing his 53-goal strike force – Smith has 25, Acklam 19 and Rathbone 9 since joining the club in December – to make the vital difference in tomorrow’s second leg.
Said Northwood after Saturday’s 3-1 first leg win: “It’s only half time at the moment but I’m certain we’ll go down there and score goals again.”
Skipper Richard Denby backed the view, saying: “I always think we’re capable of scoring away from home.”
Privately, Gresley were seething at having conceded a late goal to hand Littlehampton something of a second leg lifeline.
But Smith said: “At least we know we’ve got a job to do and we won’t be complacement.”
