GRESLEY GO DOWN THE LANSDOWNE ROAD

GRESLEY 3 FC OSWESTRY TOWN 2
FA VASE 2Q @ THE MOAT GROUND
14 SEPTEMBER 2019 --- 3PM

GRESLEY V FC OSWESTRY TOWN HANDS UP

A double strike from Gresley captain Albert Lansdowne secured the home sides passage to the next round of the FA Vase in a score line that made the event look closer than it really was.
It was a game of underwhelming quality although alongside the sharp finishes from Lansdowne the stand out moment was the superb 25 yard equaliser ffrom Mike O'Reilly for the visitors on the stroke of half time.
For the 50 year old, plus, hopper a Saturday at Frickley Athletic followed by Gresley the following has to be the ultimate in 'grounds as they should be' studies.  Non of your concrete grounds in a former field near the motorway junction with these two just honest old grounds.  It was three years since the last visit to the Moat Ground and this fixture was very nearly thwarted by late trains meaning missed connections.  However thankfully the Midland Classic 21 turned up at 1.55 in Burton and I was outside the ground just after 2.30pm. Forgive me for not describing the ground again hopefully a few of the pictures used will give a feel for this quirky loveable set up.  Amazingly the homely clubhouse is still standing and the tightness of the ground making a close to the action atmosphere self evident, it was also added to by an excellent public address system during the afternoon.
Programme admission, golden goal ticket, cash draw all purchased-although I have to admit to dodging the 'team card' draw it is clear they like their raffles here.  But that remains the positive thing about this club there seemed to be a wide selection of people all doing their bit to keep this old lady on track.

THE MOAT GROUND HOME OF GRESLEY FC

Now plying their trade at step 5 in the Midland League the glory days have dwindled away for Gresley they are still a proud club well worth taking a look at and would today have Dave
McDermott installed as their new manager for the first time.  For me there is the near Wales connection with Shropshire based FC Oswestry Town who are recently formed and now plying their trade in The NWCFL and basing themselves out of Burma Road home of The New Saints of Llansantfraid and Oswestry Town who are the owners of the ground and of course competing in The Cymru Premier League also sharing at the ground now are fellow NWCFL side St Martins.  Indeed Steve Evans Welsh international and TNS assistant manage is in the starting line up for FC today alongside a few other former Welsh Premier League players.  There is always a question of connection with TNS and I remain unsure but badges, kit manufacturer is similar and the same to the landlords and their is normally a selection of TNS training tops floating around.

MORE CLASSIC GROUND

On my one and only visit to Oswestry I enjoyed the town and although the previous club, which is combined into TNS, no longer has a visible ground due to the development of housing I do have a mates relative in Gary Simpson who used to play for them for a very short period of time when he moved from then league side Chester, so I have a bit of a soft spot for the area.

MURAL STILL INTACT WITH ELVIS PUTTING IN AN APPEARANCE

There would be, like last time, no sign of the best named mascot ever Elvis Gresley who has either broke his leash again or gone to the dog kennel in the sky as I didn't see him last time either.
Kicking up the slope it would be a great start for the home side when they took an eighth minute lead Joe Haines crashing a close range effort off the underside of the bar the flew up of the line and diverted in off the post.  It took the visitors a while to get into the game and coming from the step below you feared for them but slowly they got into the game but it was their keeper Mason Springthorpe who had to be alert to save from James Bennett-Tindall and Nehemia Zazi.

OPENING GOAL FOR GRESLEY FROM JOE HAINES [7]

We entered first half stoppage time when David Howarth was bundled over 25 yards out and the
quality moment of the game came when O'Reilly [M] struck home the sweetest of 25 yard efforts that beat Ben Allsop who was at full stretch in the home goal.

GOAL OF THE GAME O'REILLY [M] EQUALISER FOR FC OSWESTRY TOWN

The second half was all Gresley with FC looking when possible to break but on the goal line just past the hour mark an attempted cross struck Evans, who was booked, and from the resultant free kick the ball fell to Lansdowne who fired home a sharp finish.  Seven minutes later it was Lansdowne who settled the tie with an equally clinical finish that found the bottom corner of the Oswestry net.

TWO PHOTOGRAPHIC VIEWS OF THIS SOMEWHERE

From a neutral point of view this game had not contained the best game of flowing football I had seen this season but from a Gresley angle they were just happy to get the win after a struggling start to the season.  There was though a brief moment for concern when in the fifth minute of injury time they got in a mess at the back Allsop misjudged and Howarth picked up the lose ball and slotted home.
Panic would not be needed for long as shortly afterwards referee Gray blew the final whistle and Gresley had collected a home tie against Rugby Town which will be a very tough challenge for them.
As ever an enjoyable visit I need more time next time I didn't have time to sample this chippy near the ground on this occasion but this is visit that has to be worth it a tight ground in the middle of its community with a collection of people eager to keep it progressing and who knows if a Wembley visit await to back up their Vase appearance in 1991.