OG COME OFF THE RAILS AT VALE

Old Glossop’s reward for beating (then) league leaders Hawk Green last week was a trip to the new league leaders Birch Vale. The opening day of the World Cup for England at Germany 06, and the fact that it was 85 degrees plus, meant we were all praying for a shock winning toss, but yet again JC called incorrectly.

Old Glossop started brightly with Twist and Parker having the Birch openers in all sorts of problems early on. There was a strong breeze from the New Mills end and as a result of this it was decided to keep Parker fresh after four miserly overs. Mitchell replaced Parker and instantly struggled in the windy conditions going for a few runs in his first two overs before he had Waterhouse well caught by Cannon at square leg.

Mitchell soon had another victim, the Birch skipper’s luck had finally ended when Tory caught him for a fluky 40. Twist certainly made use of the "wind free" conditions at his end showing his adoring fans that he was still, despite his age, a lively bowler with constant lifting deliveries.

Gerrard replaced Mitchell (2-35) and controversy soon struck. The young BV batter, Walsh, had been chancing his arm gaining yards at the non-striker’s end and this wasn't going unnoticed by Ali, who bailed the "young upstart".

Walsh, visibly upset, trudged off cursing his average before OG Old gent Stevens called him back. OG skipper Cannon agreed with this very sporting gesture, much to Gerrard's dismay.

This incident had certainly upset the OG players, and with constant bickering amongst themselves, it certainly played into BV hands, who scored 45 runs in the next 5 overs.

Stevens was than brought on at the New Mills end and struggled just like his predecessors had.

Twist came off and was replaced by Tory who bowled 4 overs for 25, without luck again, though Stevens did drop Gavin at slip off Tory's penultimate ball.

Twist then came back on and accounted for Walsh lbw for 42. Parker then replaced Twist and was an instant success trapping Gavin LBW for 41. Parker and Twist soon wrapped up the Birch Innings for 216, Parker (10.3.31.3) and Twist (18.5.54.5) with very commendable figures on such a free scoring ground.

Mikey Parker also took a blinding one handed catch off Uncle Matt.

Old Glossop then decided that 216 was a very achievable target on such a small ground. Martyn "Airwolf" Parker started off like a Jet simulator scoring 2 boundaries off the first over, before Stevens fell cheaply again.

Mikey Parker came to the crease at 15-1 and Vale soon changed their approach replacing both openers with spinners, which was to prove crucial as a number of OG batters struggled to hit boundaries, even though the ground was small.

Mikey was out stumped for 19, which brought skipper Cannon to crease. JC appeared to struggle against the slow bowling before consecutive boundaries had him looking like his old self.

JC too was then stumped for 29 following which a succession of OG wickets began to fall.

First Gerrard fell for a duck, then Airwolf, who was visibly tiring, just could go on no longer and was bowled for a well made 42. Matt Parker then came to the crease and soon set out after the Vale slow bowlers hitting Walsh for four off his second ball. Allcock (3) chipped tamely to mid off and was followed by Tory, who appeared at home in the conditions and was rotating the strike to the dangerous Parker, who hit 26 in a 30 run partnership, before Wright too chipped tamely back to the bowler.

Parker continued to dispatch the BV attack to all parts hitting 5 sixes and two fours in a breezy 38 before a long hop from Walsh was top edged back to the bowler. This brought ‘walking wicket’ Twist to the crease and the Old Glossop run chase was soon halted withTwist being bowled, leaving Mitchell unbeaten at the other end and some OG players questioning JC’s ruthlessness.