Note that this page is from our Gresley Rovers archive. It may not be related to the new Gresley Rovers (formerly Gresley FC until 2020).
Story courtesy of
Gresley coach Steve Dolby poured lavish praise on his team’s defence this week – then put the spotlight on goal-grabber, Derek Christopher.
Dolby was fulsome in his praise for the Rovers back four after the 2-0 Derbyshire Senior Cup semi-final victory over Stapenhill.Although his claim that Gresley created “four times as many chances as Stapenhill” might bring howls of protest from the Edge Hill camp, no-one could argue that the quality of Gresley’s defensive work was a key factor in the win – even allowing for the fact that Stapenhill created and missed a series of chances in the first half.
Rival bosses Frank Northwood and Mick Allsopp would never be able to compile mush of a list of points they agree on but even they were of one mind afterwards; it was Gresley’s ability to take the openings that came their way that made all the difference at the end of the day.
And Christopher, signed from Banks’s League rivals, was the marksman supreme in the first half with a blistering goal to open his account for Gresley.
The Birmingham based postal worker admitted afterwards: “I really enjoyed the goal – and I’d like to think there are a lot more where that comes from.”
So too, would Northwood and Dolby, with the Gresley coach saying: “Derek is finding it hard to stick the ball in the net at the moment but he gets into very good positions. I’m sure he’ll get a lot of goals for Gresley.”
