LONG EATON WIN THE 3 O'CLOCK AT WARWICK BY A NOSE

RACING CLUB WARWICK 2 LONG EATON UNITED 3
FA VASE ROUND 1 @ TOWNSEND MEADOWS
12 OCTOBER 2019 --- 3PM

LONG EATON GO 2 UP EARLY IN THE SECOND HALF

Within ten minutes of the start of the second half Long Eaton United led by three goals to nil and a gentle canter to the finish line would be the order of the day but from somewhere the home side pulled back two goals and then saw the woodwork and visiting defender on the goal line intervene to deny what would have been a remarkable comeback.  Up until this point it had been far from entertaining and Warwick had, sorry another ones coming, not been at the races however from somewhere they nearly found the comeback that all the home fans were hoping for.  It would have been a travesty really because the Derbyshire visitors were the strongest of the teams but they so nearly went off script.
As per every Saturday Cross Country by Arriva makes you madder with the obligatory busier than ever all standing to Birmingham becoming par for the course however this top management team continue to get away with this appalling service beggars belief.  With around an hour to wait for the Warwick connection at nearby Moor Street Station the option to jump an all stopping service to Dorridge was taken and a brief look around the boutique type village that has to contain the biggest clock on the frontage of the new build mini supermarket, it would appear totally out of context with the village.  The station here is smart and its major plus is that it contains the cleanest toilets on the rail network so far, unless of course you know different?

LOOKING BACK AT THE EAST GATE ENTRANCE WITH GEORGE V POST BOX

Chiltern Railways would provide a first sample of their services with now a short trip on the Marylebone bound train, seat gained and departure around fifteen minutes later onto the streets of Warwick for the first time. The town has the usual enough history to shake a few sticks at and I guess is something like a mini York, its castle being its main attraction.  Sadly from the town side you can see very little of the fortification blocked out by trees and a large stone wall I didn't have time to go to south side were I believe the views are from.  Both ends of the town have a gate entrance with the east gate first on our radar a fine twin tunnelled entrance all showy and full of pomp as we enter.  The collection of buildings are a treasure in themselves with the old courthouse and the scales of justice statue half way aloft the exterior wall, the fantastic tower of St Marys Church, Lord Leycester Hospital and the West Gate that signify the experience of the structures around the centre.  Worth noting is that both entrances to the town have George V octagonal post boxes with letter box type entrances, not many of those around a collectors item much like the Post Office in March.

DOES IT GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS THE LORD LEYCESTER HOSPITAL AND WEST GATE

Walking out to the opposite end of the town The Chip Shed is marked down for a visit after todays encounter sprightly cutting through a local estate to come out by the rear of the main grandstand at Warwick Racecourse gives comfort to the fact that we are in the immediate vicinity because Racing Club Warwick have their ground around the start of the final straight.
Judith Chalmers put away the venue for todays FA Vase was reached and a warm greeting by both the turnstile operator and the lady on raffle duty was accorded to the visitor the only strange side was trying to find the tucked away entrance, beware if you visit don't give up.  The club rooms look like a former outbuilding for the racecourse but where relatively smart with bar area and toilets with an external snack bar.  Here a Deja vu moment when I recognised the lady serving from The Black Pig Company who had been at Studley last week it would appear they have the contract for both and sadly the chips looked as poor as last week and I gave the snacks a wide berth.

THE WINNING POST WITH TOWNSEND MEADOW IN THE FAR RIGHT OF THE PICTURE

The tour then wide open behind the goal before the club house and this offers a nice congregating area, moving round the changing rooms are behind the corner flag and the final straight and are made up of extended modern cabins.  The touchline houses a low roofer stand with a selection of seats both
modern and a cracking collection of old wooden art deco type mounted with the paint disappearing I have not seen to many like this around the grounds.  The far goal is a hard standing area and coming back to the road side a smart Atcost type smart stand similar to Birstall with its high roof and vantage position is set out with corporate liveried seats and although small is a smart affair.

THE OLDER OF THE TWO STANDS FULL OF CHARM

Before the game it was a pleasure, as ever to catch up with United manager Rudy Funk who always has time for supporters of the non league game and is much respected on the circuit from Scarborough to AFC Mansfield and beyond.
It looked an interesting game on paper with RCW lowly in the MFL Premier League and the visitors challenging towards the top end of the same competition but what turned up on the first forty five minutes was far from it a dour game with misplaced tackles a plenty really had me wondering about the term entertainment.  However what could be said was United looked strong and RCW could not get a foothold in the game due to this.

IF ITS MODERN YOU WANT HERE IS SMARTNESS ALSO

A strange and quite correct penalty from referee McMahon on 34 minutes gave the visitors a half time lead it was Niall Towle who converted after appeals for a penalty were waved away the ball was cleared but as the said Long Eaton player started to rise to his feet the seemingly annoyed Kevin Thornton pushed him back to the floor, the ball still being in play this was an excellent spot by the referee and a brave but correct decision.

LONG EATON ON THE BALL

Warwick were out early for the second half all eager and one can only guess with new instructions to get into this game but within a minute it all went wrong when David Kolodynski heading back across the keeper to find the net and on 55 minutes it was three nil with a low cross from within the penalty box turned in from close range by Towle. Game over, taxi for the chippy, well no actually the home side found something they had failed to do so far find the back of the net and get a foothold in the game how it gave them some self belief.

ST MARYS TOWERING ABOVE TOWN AND FOOTBALL CLUB AS JUDE BRITTAIN TAKES THE FREE KICK

The first goal was pulled back on 57 minutes when Dale Wigmore flew in to convert from an under hit back pass as the visitors got in a mess at the back and then the deficit was down to just one goal thanks to Sean Castleton who fired home a loose ball from 14 yards. 
In the closing stages captain and constant threat Thornton crashed a 25 yard effort off the woodwork for RCW and with two minutes of normal time remaining a back post header from Adam Miles was scrambled off the line by a United defender.

THIS IS NOT A COMMENT ON THE REF BUT READS -  IT TAKES BALLS TO TALK

Long Eaton were delighted to hear the final whistle for the hopper and locals after some of the early debatable stuff we would have quite happily settled for half an hour of extra time as the game had finally started to get going, it wasn't to be though and chippy awaited.
The Chip Shed on West Street is rated the top chip shop in Warwickshire and in the top 20 nationally its in a unique quirky building, as most are in Warwick, and offers a small selection of seats for inside dining.  The boxes that contain the delicacy are corporately emblazoned and with a take away menu offering a little about the establishment I was ready after a small wait to sample todays offerings.  All was good with a  fair selection of food it would appear around my play off zone I have had better and certainly worse and would relish a further visit in the future to both this weeks and last weeks food emporiums.

WELCOME TO MY KIND OF SHED

With an hour to play with before the return train to Birmingham a look around the town centre and its Market Square was more than called for and just added to the overall positive impression of Warwick which hopefully I will get chance to revisit to spend some time in its attractive surroundings.
Arriving back in the countries second city refreshed from the half an hour journey with seat gained, take not Cross Country yes sets available, a short walk back to New Street for the 7pm departure and standby, seat secured and a return to spire town just after 8pm from a highly entertaining day out remember its not all about the football.