THE THRILL OF THE FA CUP

LONG EATON UNITED 1 SOUTH NORMANTON ATHLETIC 1
FA CUP PRELIMINARY ROUND @ GRANGE PARK
24 AUGUST 2019 --- 3PM

GRANGE PARK LOOKING SMART

The thrill of the FA Cup really? Well this game, oh hang on a minute the traffic lights have just changed to green in the centre of Long Eaton now.
An equaliser with two minutes remaining from the penalty spot converted by Martin Smyth cancelled out the home sides goal and meant a mid week collection of supporters may have to witness a similar affair in Derbyshire very shortly be warned.  In fairness it was a blisteringly hot afternoon even with endeavour from both sides never being in doubt the football on show was dour with little in goal mouth action and both benches surprisingly subdued.  All this was strange from what looked like the stand out tie of the round locally from two sides who had scored over 40 goals so far this season but I suppose we were lucky it wasn't goal less I guess.
Travel down to Long Eaton, covered before on a few occasions, was by a sardine and pilchard tinned EMR train which was picking up all the slack from the closure of the East Coast Main Line to London and although I have become an accustomed traveller this one took the biscuit.  Most of us lost weight while standing in the boiling carriages and as invariably happens there were delays of twenty minutes to add to this thirty or so minute journey.

NICE TOUCH FROM LONG EATON

It would be the first time I had attempted Long Eaton by train but with the station a fair distance from the town I struck lucky with a bus arriving to whisk me away to the Best of British chippy in the centre.  All ok standards wise but it was one of those chippy's that cooked in oils/fats that allowed you to keep the taste for the rest of the weekend, without any extra charge!
Grange Park was looking very smart and with its well appointed main stand and clubhouse this really is an attractive place to watch some footy.  The smaller stand on the far side saw an interesting conversation struck up with an older chap and we veered into speedway which was previously directly over the road and The Invaders were relived.

JASON WHITE STRETCHES TO SAVE FOR LONG EATON UNITED

There was time to catch up with new United manager Rudy Funk who was in summer attire and looked straight of the pages of a fashion catalogue this afternoon.  This would be the second match in 24 hours for Chesterfield referee Rob Rees and Long Eaton had made the afternoon look even more smart with a club badged podium to present the ball as the teams came onto the pitch.
The first half saw the home side take the lead after 19 minutes when  captain Jon D'Laryea saw his shot beat the Normanton keeper by what looked like a bobble up over the newly laid area of the penalty box turf.
There endeth the first half lesson.

REFEREE REES RUNS THROUGH THE JOKE ONE MORE TIME ALTHOUGH KEEPER WHITE GOT IT FIRST TIME IT WOULD APPEAR.

The second period didn't offer much more Marc Strzyzewski mistimed in front of goal and at the other end James Shaw hit the side netting.  Curtis Hall kept the visitors in it with an excellent save that would have finished the game off and in the end it set up a replay when Smyth converted late on from the penalty spot.
Return affair was not going to be by the train experience of earlier and a roundabout bus to Nottingham before an all stopper to spire town saw arrival back at base just after 8pm.  Now let me check out when the reply is it cannot be as poor again or maybe I'm washing my hair that night.