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Rovers plan Vase mission
Story courtesy of
Gresley Rovers are already planning for the fourth round of the FA Vase – even though they don’t yet know who they will be playing.
The draw paired the Moatmen with either Newcastle Town or Penrith, both of the North West Counties League.And it meant another away day for Gresley, who face either the relatively short trip to Stoke-on-Trent or a mammoth trek to Cumbria, depending on the outcome of Saturday’s delayed third round tie at Newcastle.
Manager Frank Northwood said: “Obviously we would have liked to have been drawn at home, but wherever we go I feel we will outnumber the opposition fans.
“At Berkhamsted on Saturday there were two Gresley fans for every one of theirs, fantastic support. It seems the supporters have got cup fever again.”
Northwood plans to have spies at Newcastle on Saturday but expects to be making the trip to Penrith on January 18.
“They must be favourites because they are in a league higher than Newcastle, but Newcastle have home advantage and with it being a cup match it could go either way.”
In fact, Penrith, who were relegated from the HFS Loans Division One last season, are currently struggling in the next-to-bottom spot in the North West Counties Division One although they have played fewer games than most of their rivals. In 11 league games they have won four and drawn two, scoring 16 conceding 16.
Newcastle, meanwhile, are third from top in Division One with 28 points from 14 games.
Rovers are to meet a combined Mickleover RBL/Borrowash Victoria X1 in a benefit match at the Moat Ground on Monday.
The match is aid of Vics full back Mick Brown, a former Legion player who broke his leg when the two sides met in a Central Midlands League game at the Moat Ground a month ago – and promptly lost his job as a sub-contract draughtsman with British Rail.
