CHORLEY FC (Victory Park)

FA CUP 2ND QUALIFYING ROUND REPLAY, CHORLEY 3-1 RUNCORN LINNETS, ATTENDANCE: 603

As it was nearly 18 years since my last visit to Victory Park (when I saw Chorley lose a Boxing Day derby 1-0 to Bamber Bridge) I decided tonight was the perfect opportunity for a revisit. I'm happy to report that in the days of Arena stands and 3G cages, Victory Park still remains a proper ground and full of character.

Chorley began life as a Rugby club in 1875 but switched to football in 1883. Victory Park has been home since 1920 and was named to commemorate the end of the First World War.

Chorley are mainstays of the National League North, the second tier of non-league football, and regularly make the end of season play-offs, though they have only won them once, back in 2019, to earn promotion to the National League. Of course, season 2019/20 then ended early due to the covid pandemic and Chorley were relegated back to the National North on a points-per-game average.

Tonight The Magpies were hosting Northern Premier League West Runcorn Linnets in an FA Cup replay, after Jack Hazelhurst scored a 72nd minute equaliser at the Millbank Stadium.

Tonight though Chorley eased into the next round with a routine win. All of their goals came in the first half courtesy of headed goals from David Moyo (24) and Harvey Smith (32) then a penalty kick converted by Carlton Ubaezuonu (39).

Like most of the crowd I was expecting a second half onslaught but it never materialised as Chorley settled for what they had and The Linnets upped their game. The final goal of the tie arrived in the 93rd minute and was the best of the bunch as Max Woodcock curled an absolute beauty into the top corner, this was not long after Runcorn's Lewis Doyle had recieved a second yellow card.

Chorley will now travel to Curzon Ashton in the next round on September 30th.

YORK CITY (York Community Stadium)

NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH, YORK CITY 3-1 SOUTHPORT, ATTENDANCE: 3,199

This afternoon I headed to York City to visit the second of the three brand new grounds in the National League North that I needed at the start of the season (Gloucester City and Boston United being the others).

My trip was slightly delayed, as such, because I originally planned to visit here a few weeks ago when Hereford were due in town but an outbreak of Covid-19 in the visitors camp saw that game postponed. There were no problems exchanging my ticket for the todays game, where Southport were the opposition.

So, after 88 years, York left Bootham Crescent to move across the city to the York Community Stadium, currently known as the LNER Community Stadium. The last game at Bootham was a 1-0 victory over Guiseley.

The Stadium is located just off the A64 in Huntington and is part of a leisure complex consisting of all the usual outlets. Indeed to get to my turnstile I walked past a cinema, a bowling alley and an indoor golf range.

It is also the location of Monks Cross Park and ride, which made parking very easy. I was off the ale today so I never bothered taking a bus into the city centre for a pint. The parking was pre-booked online and the getaway after the game was relatively painless.

The first competitive game at the York Community Stadium took place in February 2021, after delays meant the opening was over eight years after originally planned, where York were beaten 3-1 by AFC Fylde.

The ground, which is shared with York City Knights Rugby League, has a capacity of 8,000. It obviously lacks the character of Bootham Crescent but is a fine example of a modern Stadium, ticking all the necessary boxes. The leg room where I was sitting was very good, I must say.

There was a record crowd in attendance to watch The Minstermen despatch Southport 3-1. Both teams have struggled for form this season so I didn't anticipate a classic encounter but York had just enough to claim the victory, no doubt to the delight of their manager, ex-Evertonian, Steve Watson.

York could have been in front within a minute of the start but veteran striker Clayton Donaldson's header went agonisingly wide.

They did take the lead after 29 minutes when Matt Brown headed home. The lead lasted just a minute when Brown went from hero to Villa by conceding a penalty, duly converted by Josh Hmami (pictured right).

York 'keeper Pete Jameson made a terrific save from point blank range to prevent Southport taking the lead in first half stoppage time.

After 58 minutes York retook the lead with another header, this time fro. Akil Wright.

The game opened up as the Sandgrounders searched for another equaliser but in the 85th minute Olly Dyson netted to seal the win for York.

I don't know the ins and outs but there are clearly issues between supporters and the board. There were chants of "sack the board" ringing out during the second half, even when the team were winning and one fan even ran onto the pitch.

Just one more ground to go now to recomplete the National League North and I think a journey to Lincolnshire may be on the cards next Saturday!

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My first visit to Bootham Crescent was back in 1995 when Everton were unceremoniously dumped out of the league Cup, The Minstermen winning 3-2. My last visit was for a York City Knights match versus the North Wales Crusaders back in 2018.

GLOUCESTER CITY (New Meadow Park)

FA CUP 2nd QUALIFYING ROUND, LONGLEVENS AFC 1-3 GLOUCESTER CITY, ATTENDANCE: 2,320

This afternoon I headed to Gloucester to visit the first of the three brand new grounds in the National League North that I needed at the start of the season (York City and Boston United being the others).

This Sunday afternoon though it was an FA Cup tie I was watching as Gloucester City took on Longlevens in a huge local derby, the first competitive meeting between the sides. This was a proper David vs Goliath match at it was National League North (step 2) vs Hellenic League (step 5).

The game was officially a Longlevens home game but the tie was switched to Meadow Park on police advice. Both clubs were rewarded with a record crowd for the new ground with over 2,300 present, including plenty of familiar faces from the groundhopping fraternity.

I did say new ground by the way, or is it a rebuild? That's a debate for others. As far as I am concerned it is a new ground as I never previously visited Meadow Park.

Gloucester returned to the city in 2020 after a nomadic 13 year existence groundsharing at Forest Green Rovers, Cirencester Town, Cheltenham Town and Evesham United. The original Meadow Park was destroyed by flooding in 2007 when the River Severn burst it's banks. There is a famous photograph that shows the water almost touching the crossbar (it is easily found with a Web search).

Although the new ground is on the same site, in the Hempsted area of the city, the pitch, the two 350 seat stands and clubhouse have been raised over 10ft to safeguard against any future flooding. The terracing from the original Meadow Park is visible behind the South Stand.

The first game at the new Meadow Park was an FA Trophy game against Needham Market in December 2020. The Tigers won 4-2. I was heading the next game on Boxing Day against Leamington, with my ticket purchased and everything, but then Covid-19 restrictions were imposed and that game was played behind closed doors before the season was eventually null and voided.

Longlevens were enjoying their best ever run in the FA Cup, this 2nd qualifying round being the furthest they had ever been before. Unfortunately for the Levens today was where that run ended. They gave a good account of themselves but in the end Gloucester just had too much.

The Tigers were on the front foot from the off and took the lead through a Danny King shot after 12 minutes. Any thoughts of a cup upset seemed unlikely at this point with Gloucester dominating the the game.

However, on 31 minutes, Longlevens scored the goal of the game when a quick counter attack led to the ball falling to Cam Williams who curled in a shot, from outside the area, past the despairing dive of Jake Cole in the Gloucester goal.

This rattled Gloucester and for a few minutes Longlevens had them pinned in their own half but half time came at a good time for The Tigers and within minutes of the restart they were back in front, King tapping home at the far post.

Gloucester dealt with the attacks from Longlevens and probably should have extended their lead on the counter but the win was finally secured with eight minutes remaining when King headed home to complete his hat-trick.

A deserved win for Gloucester but Longlevens bowed out with their heads held high.