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When The Evening Sun Goes Down
Aug. 14th, 2023 10:02 pmSaturday morning watched the Women’s World Cup quarter-finals. The Australia v France penalty shoot-out was insane. I have to admit I wanted Australia’s tenth kicker to miss, just so we would see the French goalie having to take one. Then England v Colombia - what a rollercoaster! I feared the worst after Colombia scored, but once Alessia put us in front I knew we were going through. A semi with the Matildas won’t be easy, but with Spain or Sweden waiting in the final…dare to dream?
Fleetlands v Alresford Town with Jade in the afternoon. Lee was on the gate. Got to say hello to Jackie and Kev, and showed Iain last week’s Non-League Paper which had a little write-up on our 9-0 win last week. Alas, this time we lost 1-0.
To Kent yesterday for London Seaward friendly at Dartford. No problems on the journey up. On the long walk from the station to the ground, came to a lovely pub called The Malt Shovel and called in for a first class roast.
We were on the 4G pitch next door to the stadium. Walking up to the pitch I met Dan who said “Good to see you”. Said hello to some of the girls as they came off the pitch and headed for the changing room, and met our new signing Zhamena. I went on to the impressive Champions Bar, which had wooden league ladders on the wall for the divisions Dartford’s men’s and women’s teams are in. What a splendid club. Read the Non-League Paper over a pint of Pravha.
There was an older guy sitting just inside the metal door to the pitch’s cage collecting admission. He asked one of our injured players to pay, she said she’d have to go fetch her money from the changing room, I explained that she was one of the squad and he let her in. Dave and Keith were in the little stand when I arrived, Dave told me a few stats from the games he’d been to during the week.
Susie Davis put us in front from close range late in the first half. Into the bar for a bag of flame grilled steak McCoy’s crisps. Soon after the break Katherine Long made it two after the Dartford ‘keeper came out and left her goal open. Dartford pulled one back from the penalty spot in the closing minutes but Seaward held on.
I went round to the other side where the technical areas were, to say my goodbyes. Dan, James and Gav thanked me for coming. Quick chat with Jo, she felt awful as the penalty was given for a handball by her. She was excited with the Lionesses’ progress in the World Cup, and said that if England make the final it’ll be shown on the big screen in the clubhouse before next Sunday’s match.
Got back to Dartford station just as a Victoria train was leaving. Quarter of an hour wait. Loved the view out of the window crossing Old Father Thames. London will always have a magic for me. The train from Victoria to Clapham Junction was mobbed but I managed to get a seat. Again, got to platform 9 at Clapham Junction just in time to see a Portsmouth train leaving, meaning a half hour wait, but that was just as well as I was Hank Marvin.
Went to Digby’s for a decaf mocha, houmous and falafel wrap, and a home-made sausage roll, that came to a staggering £17 - all excellent though. Arrived home just after 9.30.
Fleetlands v Alresford Town with Jade in the afternoon. Lee was on the gate. Got to say hello to Jackie and Kev, and showed Iain last week’s Non-League Paper which had a little write-up on our 9-0 win last week. Alas, this time we lost 1-0.
To Kent yesterday for London Seaward friendly at Dartford. No problems on the journey up. On the long walk from the station to the ground, came to a lovely pub called The Malt Shovel and called in for a first class roast.
We were on the 4G pitch next door to the stadium. Walking up to the pitch I met Dan who said “Good to see you”. Said hello to some of the girls as they came off the pitch and headed for the changing room, and met our new signing Zhamena. I went on to the impressive Champions Bar, which had wooden league ladders on the wall for the divisions Dartford’s men’s and women’s teams are in. What a splendid club. Read the Non-League Paper over a pint of Pravha.
There was an older guy sitting just inside the metal door to the pitch’s cage collecting admission. He asked one of our injured players to pay, she said she’d have to go fetch her money from the changing room, I explained that she was one of the squad and he let her in. Dave and Keith were in the little stand when I arrived, Dave told me a few stats from the games he’d been to during the week.
Susie Davis put us in front from close range late in the first half. Into the bar for a bag of flame grilled steak McCoy’s crisps. Soon after the break Katherine Long made it two after the Dartford ‘keeper came out and left her goal open. Dartford pulled one back from the penalty spot in the closing minutes but Seaward held on.
I went round to the other side where the technical areas were, to say my goodbyes. Dan, James and Gav thanked me for coming. Quick chat with Jo, she felt awful as the penalty was given for a handball by her. She was excited with the Lionesses’ progress in the World Cup, and said that if England make the final it’ll be shown on the big screen in the clubhouse before next Sunday’s match.
Got back to Dartford station just as a Victoria train was leaving. Quarter of an hour wait. Loved the view out of the window crossing Old Father Thames. London will always have a magic for me. The train from Victoria to Clapham Junction was mobbed but I managed to get a seat. Again, got to platform 9 at Clapham Junction just in time to see a Portsmouth train leaving, meaning a half hour wait, but that was just as well as I was Hank Marvin.
Went to Digby’s for a decaf mocha, houmous and falafel wrap, and a home-made sausage roll, that came to a staggering £17 - all excellent though. Arrived home just after 9.30.
