Saturday 19th November 2011 ko 3.00pm

FA Vase 2nd Round

CONSETT AFC 4 (Walton 44 45 Mackay 69 84)

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED 2 (Drew 48 Flannery 83)

Att 133

Entry £5

Programme £1

Raffle £1

Badge £3

Pie, Peas and Chips £2.80

Tea 50p

My attendance here was for the most straightforward of reasons, the ground will be knocked down at the end of the season, and it’s known to be a cracker. I took Chris Berezai, newly back from a holiday in Egypt along for the ride. We are both fans of the FA Vase, and let’s face it who’s going to turn down the chance to visit a ground like Belle Vue Park?

The ground actually looks older than it is, built by steelworkers in 1950, and used to feature two stands, sadly all that’s left of the “Pop” side stand is a few concrete posts poking out from the grass covered banking. That banking is another echo of the town’s steel-making past, being constructed from cinders from the works. The place is atmospheric, a groundhoppers’ paradise, and those who work for the club can’t stand the place. An oft heard comment is “Those who love it, don’t have to live with it!”

The centre of the social side is the excellent corner flag cafe, the food is excellent, particulary the chips, but the banter is even better! Chris discovered that the way to give up smoking in these parts is with “Black Bullets,” a form of mint, about the size and shape of a “Werther’s Original!”

The new ground as yet unnamed, is being built next door to the local Tesco, and will feature two stands and a synthetic pitch. The council will own the ground but the club will be responsible for the renewal of the pitch every 10 years at around £350,000. Work started on October 3rd and in theory will be complete by the end of March. Its possible that games will be played at the new ground before the end of the season. However that would require a sunny winter….in Consett?

This game was between two step 5 clubs, Consett mid-table in Northern League Division 1 and their visitors currently top of the North West Counties Premier. With non-progression from the Northern League virtually policy, it was to be a good even contest. Except very little happened for vast majority of the first half. A mixture of tentative play and a bumpy, rutted pitch, made watching a tedious activity, until, slightly against the run of play, Marc Walton fired home from the right, just inside the box. Rammy fans will wonder how Shenton was beaten at the near post, home fans delighted in the power of the shot. Within a minute Walton had his second, and more fortuitous in manner. Again a powerful shot but a wicked deflection wrong footed Shenton completely.

After the break the visitors were level within 9 frantic minutes.First Mark Drew’s 40-yard piledriver of a free kick bounced wildly on a divot in front of home keeper Barry Poskett who was unable to prevent it finding the net. Then giant centre half Ian Flannery rose to head home Grant Spencer’s corner to restore parity. Michael Mackay put Consett back in front on 69 minutes after latching to Harrison Davies’ through ball, then Mackay made the game safe five minutes from time with a wonderful dipping strike from 25 yards after Rammy gave the ball away cheaply at the by-line.

Harsh on Ramsbottom, who suspect may well be entering the Trophy next season. Consett will see out the season at Belle Vue Park, before their move, but its perhaps superfluous to say, do pay them a visit at their current home before its too late.