I like Grosvenor Vale. It used to belong to Ruislip Manor but was taken over last year by the 'Stones. Geographically it clearly isn't where they want to be playing, and structure wise they probably wish for more. But they've very much made it home by bringing in various bits and pieces that look like they've been purchased from a football stadium charity shop, if such a thing existed. In doing so they've turned what was once barely more than a pitch in a park into a ground that has most of the facilities that you might find at a League 2 ground albeit on a much smaller scale.
There are various portacabins dotted around the place with names on them such as 'boardroom' and 'supporters club shop'. There is a small grandstand, which probably used to be a terrace but now has seats that look like they used to seat people watching a sea life show at the zoo rather than football supporters. There is an odd concrete structure in one corner which is used as a gantry for cameramen. Mostly oddly of all, down by one corner flag is a small statue of an owl. You couldn't get further away from an identikit new stadium and it had far more charm than all the ones I've ever been to put together.
The 'Stones were keen to make us welcome not only today but also in the future. Should you be a season ticket holder of any football league club you can go and see a home Wealdstone Premier League match for half price just by showing your season ticket. Our ticket also entitled us to see another of their pre season games for half price although, alas, not their friendly with 'Dirty Leeds' on Tuesday night, the PA's words not mine!
As predicted in the WO the Horns lined up without Tommy Smith, although one wonders whether the reason is really an injury. Lets hope so. Also missing was Ross Jenkins again with a knock and Jobi and Don Cowie with an unspecified 'illness'. Is it THE 'illness' do you think?
In came our new signing Jure Travner who played down the left flank, and trialist Claudio Beauvue who played as an attacking right winger. For most of the match no-one knew who they were and I overheard various conversations with people guessing wrongly. Travner being mainly mistaken for Billy Gibson and Beauvue for Lewis Young, Matty Whichelow and Albert Jarret who we actually got rid of a long time ago.
Beauvue certainly couldn't have wished for a better afternoon. He was probably the best player on the pitch causing the Stones defence no end of trouble weaving in and out of tackles to cross the ball for Priskin and Graham. He got the biggest appalause of the day when he was eventually subbed in the second half and one would hope MM is quick to draw up a contract.
Travner also did well linking up to good effect with Jon Harley. The man marking Harley in particular had a hard time and resorted to hacking Jon down on more than one occassion which led to the only bit of aggro in the game as Harley eventually had enough and squared up to his inferior opponent.
Like last week Priskin caused a lot of problems and should've had a penalty after about ten minutes when he was clearly hacked down but the ref ignored the challenge not even waving way the appeals. Priskin was then denied a rare headed goal when his effort was saved but fumbled by the Stones keeper and Danny Graham was on hand to bundle the ball home for his third pre-season goal. Yet again he looked like a really good find to the degree that on the way home I was already pondering how long we'll be able to hang on to him for.
We did get a penalty later in the half when Jon Harley was alleged to have been man handled in the box. A chant went up for Lloyd to take it but Priskin stepped forward to blast the ball home. Unfortuantely Doyley didn't once transform into his alter-ego of Lloydinho but had a solid game nevertheless.
The second half brought with it many breaks for substitutions which had been so blessedly missing last week. Priskin and Graham were replaced by Duke and Liam Henderson. Ellington again frustrated until very late on when he volleyed home following a poor clearance. From his performances so far, if we keep him, I don't see him doing anything more than warming the bench like he used to do under Aidy. He'll come on with a few minutes to go more in hope than expectation.
As at Borehamwood, Wealdstone improved in the second half and gave the few who played the full 90 (Lee, Mariappa and Harley) plus the lesser experienced members of the squad who appeared as subs a more challenging examination. However we were more than up to it and apart from winning a few corners Richard Lee's goal was never really threatened.
Lloyd Doyley wins this week's Mr.Nice Guy award for stopping to chat, sign autographs and have pics taken with any Watford supporters who called his name as he walked back towards the portacabin that had a dressing room sign attached to it at the end.
Just over a week into the pre-season matches and its a surprise to find we are already half way through them. The first team are off to Spain now and I think its probably a good thing that Real Zaragoza, who we were meant to play, have been replaced by opponents from further down the La Liga structure who probably won't be quite such a challenge.
