NEW HORACE WYNNE SEMI-FINAL
BALA TOWN 1 GRESFORD RESERVES 2
By Captain Web

We hadn't heard the news from Rome when we arrived at rain-soaked Llangollen last night so when we saw the billows of white smoke coming over Minera mountain at 8pm last night we were already expecting that Broady would be named as the next Pope !! The highest of acclaims of course for a man who yet again was the saviour of Gresford Athletic and it was his 68 th minute goal against Bala Town Reserves that had earned us a place in the final of the Horace Wynne Challenge Cup.

The match was played following four hours of torrential rain so it was a bit of a surprise that the game even went ahead at all.

There were two changes from Saturday's cup success over Cefn United as sadly Luke and Matt Davies were both cup-tied. Rob dropped back to fullback and Sooty partnered Haggis. There was a one for one change up front where Owen played alongside Broady.

We had to live our nerves a bit early on with first Soot and then Chal losing their footing but Pricey came to our rescue.

Gaz made several good runs down the left flank and Broady was coping with the conditions better than most and I think I counted 8 occasions when he out-jumped the two central defenders that were marking him.

It soon became apparent that Bala were no ordinary Division Two side and they more than matched us in several departments and notably midfield were Rich and Keeno were second best at times and Rich throwing more than the odd tantrum out of sheer frustration. We broke our deadlock after 24 minutes when almost out of nothing Sooty drilled the ball home from the edge of the box following a corner.

The goal calmed our nerves and we settled to play some good and controlled football but totally against the run of play, Ricky Rowlands let fly from 35 yards and he gave Pricey the Cat no chance.

We started the second period in tentative fashion and once again it was Bala who looked like the Division One side and we looked tired at times. It was our master craftsman Chris Broadhirst gave us a huge lift on the hour mark when quite an innocuous ball in fell to his feet and he beat the keeper from way out with a lofted shot of class.

Back came Bala and they quickly brought Colin Caton off the bench and he caused plenty of problems with his physique. Big Col caused plenty of laughs when our Cap'n Courageous admitted that Col had earlier asked him whether he lived next door to a pie shop !!

Our opponents caused us lots of anxious moments as the game reached fever pitch late but on three separate occasions Pricey pulled off three text book saves which were later with him being rewarded as Man of the Match.

MOM Pricey

TWA Tea Award – Chal for his clown prince antics and brake dancing on his ‘Arris.

Team: 1. Mike Price (9) 2. Robbie Jones (8) 3. Steve Halliwell (8) 4. Paul Chaloner (7) 5. Graham Sutcliffe (7) 6. Darren Jones(7) 7. Owen Roberts (7) 8. Richard Carr (7) 9. Chris Broadhurst (8) 10. Paul Jones (7) 11. Gaz Pugh-Jones(7) SUBS: 12. Chris Hughes(7) 14. Jeff Hennessey (7) 15. Ady Roberts(7)