GRESLEY PAY THE PENALTY

GRESLEY 0 V SPALDING UTD 2
EVOSTIK LG 1 SOUTH @ THE MOAT GROUND
17 DECEMBER 2016 --- 3PM

THE MOAT GROUND GRESLEY FC

It was Gresley who paid the penalty in the second half with the visitors scoring from the spot through Conor Higginson after a first half penalty for Spalding from Matt Varley was saved, to add to the home sides feeling of injustice it was Varley who lashed home a 25 yarder with 5 minutes remaining to seal the 3 points.
As is becoming a regular feature of the blog it was all a last minute selection to visit Gresley today for the first time from a list that did not even feature the game the evening before.  The Moat Ground had been on the 'to do list' for too long and with the mass of Christmas travel out and about the decision was made to stay somewhat more local.  The home of The Moatmen Church Gresley is not the easiest on public transport and with Newcastle at Burton today I played it careful with a first change at Derby for a local train to the brewing town, needless to say it was a standing only journey's again.

AEC ROUTEMASTER READYING FOR DEPARTURE TO CHURCH GRESLEY

Upon arrival it was clear that the Geordies were out in force to follow their team and having researched most of the connections on the way today a 15 minute walk to the town centre bus stop found me in time for the 1155 to Swadlincote which after a circuitous route would drop me in Church Gresley just before 1230.  Treat number 1 was the arrival on stand of Midland Classic's vintage AEC Park Royal Routemaster with blogger immediately dispatching himself upstairs I'm pleased to say I did allow the younger members of public to sit at the front.  As ever on these classic buses it always amazes me how small the seats are in comparison to todays larger sized people.  A great pleasure to travel this icon for a good old journey and I have to admit to waiting for its return from 'Swad' to take a picture of 798UXA by the gates of then Maurice Lea Park, the only disappointment was Stan and Jack from On The Buses were nowhere to be seen, mind you we did have a nice crew and it was certainly an experience departing from the rear of the bus with an open platform more so when my stop had no sign or road markings and I had to check with the conductor the driver had stopped for me not traffic because I could see him pulling off with me having one leg on the bus and one on the road!

LUNCH IN STAFFORDSHIRE

Once again I had arrived probably an hour too early and so after a visit to Andy's for some fish and chips there was time to walk the streets around the ground which was starting to come to life.  The Moat Ground is from the outside a classic tightly nestling within the neighbouring narrow streets many of which are in a one way system which I guess you could spend a little time trying to find your way out of.

NOW A 3 SIDED GROUND BUT THE SITE OF A FORMER COVERED STANDING AREA

Having taken the plunge to enter just after 1.30pm I normally describe the ground, of course I'm going to give it a go, but I would love to say I cannot to any level that does this characterful stadium justice.  This is non league football grounds, indeed grounds as they should be, used to be, they should be stored in the memory bank of football but more so than ever just re visited time and time again, love it.

FULL LENGHT VIEW OF THE BUSINESS AREA

Here goes to the immediate right the grounds mans office followed by the first aid shed to the front of us is a steep terracing and to its right a narrow covered area.  That were it all stops because behind the far goal offers no viewing now but a steward showed me the former structures in the wall that allowed a further narrow covered stand which is now long gone in the cause of development.  Back to our entrance and turning left the hospitality cabin is high above a set of stairs and above the old style urinals, against a wall.  Moving onto the stand which as with most things at this is quirky with a massive roof but rows of seats that seem to fit uncomfortable out of line.  The walkway behind the stand has to its left the changing rooms with the home dressing room decorated with a lucky horseshoe that has seen much red paint lovingly coated over it in the proceeding years, the snack bar comes next and its a friendly affair there during my afternoon visits.

HARRYS BAR

Back out into the open and we are slightly elevated with club shop, secretaries cabin, toilet block and the towards the corner flag Harry's Bar a long narrow clubhouse that has seen better days but oozes history.  the terracing on this side goes everywhere high, medium and low and you just want to sample all vantage points.  From here on in the whole ground becomes very narrow but how close to the pitch are you......very close and typical of what's good about non league.

TERRACING AND SMALL STAND OPPOSITE THE MAIN STAND AT GRESLEY FC

Behind the goal is narrow slab terracing which has no cover until the far side of the goal where by this time we have passed a further turnstile which offers entry to todays festival of fun for a few spectators who chose this access route from Church St.  The far terracing again is narrow to houses and pitch with the cover starting about 30 yards up the touchline before around the halfway line developing into the most historic of wooden seats I have seen for a while in a football ground.

THE UNIQUE SEATS

As we go back onto terracing we reach the far goal with a now defunct snack bar in the corner probably relevant to the time when  this ground had access to all four sides and also in the top corner Gresley's own mural.

GRESLEYS OWN MURAL

Of note also is the excellent public address system loud and audible all around the ground well done guys so many today are poor there was some good announcements and a festive choice of music too.
I had not caught up with Spalding for a fair while and it was good to see a few local to the blog faces in Nathan Whitehead and Jordan Lemon who would start today.

WHITEHEAD AND LEMON IN PRE MATCH MODE

A first visit to Gresley FC then but a team that I had seen many times on the road including a FA Vase replay at Sheffield United a fair few years ago, indeed in the 90's Paul Futcher succeeded in getting the club up to the Conference only for the FA to deny this opportunity on ground grading I guess they couldn't find anywhere to store the prawn sandwiches.  There is talk of a move away from The Moat Ground and how you can see how this will help the club there are many parts of the ground that could benefit from a modern upgrade but as a non league fan the loss of a ground like this sentimentally will be devastating there are so many edge of town fields and industrial estate grounds developed with no feeling.

NATHAN WHITEHEAD SPALDING FC

Sadly today club mascot Elvis Gresley was in the doghouse and did not make an appearance I suppose that was all I needed for a further treat as treat number 2 was clearly The Moat Ground.

THE RESPECT HANDSHAKES START WELL

The match then we have got there of course and the first half was a stodgy affair with a penalty on 34 minutes probably being the highlight Spalding frontman Bradley Wells was clipped by Alvin Jarvis as he appeared on his was from goal but referee Postin had little hesitation in pointing to the spot.  The resultant kick from Varley was not too convincing and Rob Peet got to his right to save.  Just before half time Reece Morris got in on the end of a nice move for the home side and his effort was saved by the out coming Michael Duggan in the visitors goal.
Half time brought respite from the average fayre but the second half began in much the same fashion with Spalding looking organised and as the game went on both sides benches became more animated and were probably providing most of the entertainment.  The home supporters were non too happy when every time Spalding manager Dave Frecklington appealed to referee Postin for a decision he seemed to get it so much so that after the second penalty decision Gresley manager Damion Beckford-Quailey was advised his next viewing position would be the stand if he continued with his protests.  Before we got to the penalty Higginson supplied a deep cross off the left and Lemon saw his shot strike the post.

ALVIN JARVIS HAS AQUICK CHAT WITH REFEREE POSTIN

On 65 minutes though the deadlock was broken with the games second penalty again one of controversy to the home fans but one guesses a clear penalty to the Spalding bench.  A knee high ball saw Ben Harris for the home side challenge Nathan Stainfield for the visitors both go for the ball, the Gresley man caught the Spalding man and as both went down the referee was signalling to the spot again, this time Higginson stepped up and gave the Lincolnshire side the lead.
The remaining minutes of this game were spent with the benches in constant appeal mode, Gresley fans feeling hard done by with the referees decision and a general tetchiness as Spalding undoubtedly knew how to break up a game and it has to be said succeeded well in their task.
Five minutes from time the game was settled before Gresley could get any pressure built up and it was a cracker with Varley making up for the penalty miss earlier smashing home the ball from 25 yards out Peet got a hand to it but could not stop the back of the net rippling, probably the highlight of the match although the benches and management teams worked pretty hard to push it to second.  The joy in which Spalding celebrated this and the proceeding goal says something about the togetherness of the side and a few minutes later at the final whistle they had gained all three points and Gresley were left to have a warm down and discussion in the centre circle as the officials left the field to a chorus of boos and a few advisory comments from the home fans.
Not the best of games but the ground more than made up for it with time on your hands its one of those grounds you want to stand and just watch because I'm sure every part has a story to tell.
Return then from just outside the ground was met with a modern double decked that took me back to Burton and I opted to take the X38 express bus to Derby and onwards to the station where upon arrival a train to base station was just pulling in and wait for it a seat was claimed before departure at just short of 7pm.

ONE MORE OF THE ROUTEMASTER OH GO ON THEN