Damage in the Box!

LLANGOLLEN TOWN (Tower Fields)

Due to clashes with the “English” FA cup this was my first opportunity to take in a game from this seasons Welsh version. Normally the interesting clashes take place during these early rounds, before the Premier big boys enter and generally dominate the latter stages. However, this weekend it was a case of trying to find something close to home, as I wanted to keep costs to a minimum in readiness for my visit to Goodison tomorrow, and the inevitable expense that goes with it.

Llangollen Town seemed to be ideal. Just a half hour drive up the road and they were playing Tywyn/Bryncrug, who gave premier league Welshpool Town a run for their money last season, in a second round clash. Llangollen ply their trade in the Welsh National League (Wrexham Area) Premier Division, which is part of the third tier of welsh football. This season they have put together a strong team as they push for promotion to the Cymru Alliance. They currently sit top of the table. Tywyn/Bryncrug (who were formed in 1999 by an amalgamation of the two sides) also ply their trade within the third tier of welsh football, but they play in the Mid-Wales league. They have had a stuttering start to the season and are currently fifth from bottom, but they do have plenty of games in hand.

I arrived in Llangollen in good time so had ample opportunity to go and sample a pub lunch before heading up to the football ground. The Towers Fields can be found, more or less, at the back of the site of the International Pavillion (a rather extravagant name for a tent!). As you enter the town on the A579 you take the first turning on the right which takes you up a hill (Dinbren Road) and at the very top of the hill (just past the leisure centre) you will find the ground (and you can look down onto the Pavillion). The football ground is one part of a three pitch area which the other two are a rugby pitch and another football pitch, on which today the Colts had a game.

The ground is very basic and only has hard standing, there are no seats here. There is a small covered terrace in which around 80 or so people can shelter from the elements. However, as with most Welsh grounds you can admire the scenery of the surrounding hills. There is building work taking place at the ground as the club attempts to upgrade the facilities to Cymru Alliance standard, as the aim of promotion to this league is the goal this season.

As the ground is not enclosed no admission was charged but, to my great surprise a 30 page programme was issued. This caught me unawares because I heard that Llangollen do not usually bother but I was more than happy to hand over my £1 in order to obtain my copy. It was just as well I arrived in good time as it was sold out well before kick off.

The game itself was an entertaining cup tie. Despite the cold and windy conditions both teams played good football and produced a cracking game. Tywyn started brightly and had the best of the opening exchanges but it was Llangollen who took the lead on 18 minutes when Lee Phelan volleyed home from inside the area. Tywyn drew level through an Own Goal on 25 minutes and took the lead ten minutes later when Nick Williams wrapped his foot around a cross to volley home low into the corner. It was quite a sublime strike.

The second half was more or less one way traffic as Llangollen dominated possession and created numerous chances (though Tywyn did create a few of their own on the break) however the ball just would not fall for them and Tywyn held on to go into the hat for the next round. All that was left was for their 'keeper to nip off back to the minibus (fag in mouth) to get the celebratory case of lager!!

Overall a great afternoon watching a good game of football and all it cost me was £1 for the programme and 70p for a cup of coffee (in a proper mug). That’s what I call value for money! Now where did I put that £36 Newcastle ticket?

Saturday 4th October 2008

FAW Welsh Cup 2nd Round

Llangollen Town 1-2 Tywyn/Bryncrug

Attendance: 78

WHITLEY BAY (Hillheads Park)

The last Saturday of the month brings another leg on the road to Wembley and another jaunt up north on the A1 to the seaside town of Whitley Bay for their FA cup match against the tigers of Hyde United. When the draw was made this, to me anyhow, looked the most interesting of ties as “the bay” are doing well in their league (the Northern league) whilst Hyde are struggling in theirs (Conference North). There may be three leagues between them but this had the whiff of an upset.

The ground was pretty easy to find as it located directly behind an ice rink on the edge of town and, because the ice rink is so well signposted, you can’t really fail to find the ground! However priorities have to be made and you can’t go the seaside and not have walk down to the seafront and sample some fish ‘n’ chips, so it was a case of whizzing past the ground and heading off in the general direction of the North Sea. I have to admit the food did not disappoint and it was one of the best pieces of cod I’ve sampled in a while. Can the day get any better? You bet it can!

After returning to the ground and parking up, it was time to enter Hillheads Park for the main event. It was £7 to enter and a further £1 for a programme. The welcome was warm as people connected to the club stopped and had a chat to you. They were genuinely pleased that we’d come all this way to watch the bay. It’s the little things like this that make you feel appreciated. I’d never get that a welcome like that at Goodison, I’m afraid.

The ground is simple enough with a big main stand and a covered terrace next to it. The other three sides of the ground are terracing. On having a look at the pitch, the first thing that hits you is how wide the pitch is. It’s massive! I suspect that in these parts they like old fashioned wing play and indeed that it how the game would be won.

Whitley Bay came out of the blocks like an express train and hit Hyde with a double whammy that left them two goals down within 5 minutes. Paul Chow found the bottom corner of the net after just 3 minutes. From the kick off the ball was intercepted and passed out wide to man-of-the-match Chris Moore, who cut in and shot past the keeper. It was more or less game over after 25 minutes when a Moore cross was headed home by Rob Livermore.

The travelling Hyde supporters were not amused and indeed when a ball went out for a corner kick one fan hurled it back at the Hyde player and asked for some pride in the shirt. The Bay could have added to their tally before half time but it was Hyde who came closest when Chris Simm hit the post. Perhaps it may have been a different story if that had found the net.

The second half continued where the first had left off with Whitely Bay continuing to push forward, however Hyde did manage to pull a goal back on 65 minutes when a Chris Lynch diving header reduced the arrears. However any hopes of a comeback were dashed when Neil Tolson was sent off a couple of minutes later for calling the linesman a f****** c*** and towards the end of the game Karl Munroe was sent off, again for foul and abusive language.

The fact that Hyde finished with only nine men should not detract from Whitley Bays performance which was simply magnificent. All in all, a thoroughly entertaining game of football, which was well worth the long trip north. It will be interesting to see who the Bay draw in the next round.

Saturday 27th September 2008
FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round
Whitley Bay 3-1 Hyde United
Attendance: 364

AYR UNITED (Somerset Park)

After recovering from the night before, it was a quick trip down the A71 and the second leg of the Scottish double. Destination today was Somerset Park, home to Ayr United and their clash with Brechin City, 1st v 2nd. It had all the makings of a cracker and the sun was beating down too. The omens were looking good!

This was another straight forward ground to find as it is more or less opposite the racecourse as you enter the town. You can see the floodlights peering above the houses. After parking up, it was a chance to walk around and savour this gem of a ground. I purchase my programme (£2) and, disappointingly, again, there were no badges on sale, but at least they had a shop! After (literally) blowing away the cobwebs over the turnstile entrance, I pay my £12 and enter the arena. This is a truly old fashioned ground in every sense.

There is only one side of the ground that has any seats and that is the main stand. The other three sides of the ground are terracing. It has been the home of Ayr since they were founded in 1910 and apart from the signs of age this ground, probably, doesn’t look any different from the day it was built. It currently has a capacity of 12,128. The record attendance for Somerset Park came against Rangers in 1969 with 25,225 people attending on the 13th September 1969. It is one of the largest capacity stadiums outside of the Scottish Premier League but only 1,597 of the total capacity are seats. It is due to be sold off for housing and a new ground built on the outskirts of town.

After placing myself high on the open terrace, i stood back to watch an entertaining game of football. Brechin made the early running in an end-to-end game but probably shaded the first half hour or so. It was no surprise when they took the lead when Gary Twigg headed home unmarked from a corner to send the travelling 28 fans into raptures. However, Ryan Stephenson equalised for Ayr just before half time when he hit home a 25 yarder into the bottom corner.

The second half continued in the same vein with the game flowing and both teams had their chances. Ayr dominated the possession and tested the Brechin keeper with a series of long range efforts. However, Brechin always looked dangerous on the break and it was Twigg who missed a chance to wrap up the three points right at the end when keeper Stephen Grindlay made a point blank save, which, in all honesty, should’ve been converted. A draw was a fair reflection of the game and a point was enough to ensure Ayr were top of the league come 5pm

So that was another Scottish weekend over and thoroughly enjoyable it was too. I vowed I wouldn’t get into the Scottish ground hopping but it becoming increasingly harder not to. Until next time!!