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Hold The Line
Mar. 1st, 2026 09:58 pmTo the Smoke for Atlético London’s away game with Enfield Town Ladies. Train up was delayed a bit, but I’d built some time in so still arrived at the ground before doors opened.
So it was round to the nearby Toby Carvery for a Sunday roast. With accepting the staff’s suggestions of a portion of pigs in blankets, and of ‘going large’, and then deciding off my own bat to go for dessert (lemon drizzle sundae) I left the place stuffed to the gunnels.
Got back to the ground to see both teams warming up. Went over to stand by the rail (alas, separated from the pitch by a running track) on the side where Atlético were. It wasn’t long before I got to shout out hello to Jo and Rea. Rea said “thanks for coming”, Jo came straight over for a fist bump. I got one from Rea when they came off to go into the changing room.
We raced into a two goal lead within 25 minutes through a strike from Brooke and a shot from Ammarah that took a wicked spin off a divot. Just before half time, sub Nicole raced into the box from the right wing and had a shot saved but Rea netted the rebound.
As the players came off for half time Jo came over to me and said “Make me play better”. She held out both her hands for a double high five. I was touched.
In the second half Enfield came out fighting and soon pulled two goals back. That woke Atleti up and we started to forge forward more, while the defence held firm. We were awarded a penalty, which some of the Enfield fans standing just along from me - and, by the look of it, a couple of their players on the field - disputed, but the Enfield keeper saved it.
Soon after, Brooke made it 4-2 with a shot in off the crossbar. The Enfield fans just down from me thought the ball hadn’t crossed the line, and one of them joked about VAR. One less sporting home fan, walking past me, said “How much did they pay the ref?”
At the final whistle, a friendlier Enfield fan talked to me about the game and asked where we’re based. He knew our ground in Barkingside. He reflected that the ball might not have crossed the line but that even without that goal we’d still have won. I replied “It’s just one of those things. Remember Geoff Hurst in 1966.”
And, I thought to myself, we had a perfectly good goal disallowed at Harpenden a few weeks ago. Swings and roundabouts.
Rea thanked me for coming again when the girls came off. Jo high-fived me again and said “Not my best game but we still got the three points”. She gave me a lovely smile as she headed down the tunnel.
Somehow failed to notice the train back from Brimsdown stopping at Tottenham Hale, so I ended up at Liverpool Street. No sweat - Elizabeth Line to Tottenham Court Road and then Northern Line to Waterloo.
Train home nice and not too busy. Passed the time with a selection of songs from YouTube and Amazon Music on my headphones.
And, nearing home, heard the announcement that Jodie Prenger has signed up for another year on Corrie. Rejoicing.
So it was round to the nearby Toby Carvery for a Sunday roast. With accepting the staff’s suggestions of a portion of pigs in blankets, and of ‘going large’, and then deciding off my own bat to go for dessert (lemon drizzle sundae) I left the place stuffed to the gunnels.
Got back to the ground to see both teams warming up. Went over to stand by the rail (alas, separated from the pitch by a running track) on the side where Atlético were. It wasn’t long before I got to shout out hello to Jo and Rea. Rea said “thanks for coming”, Jo came straight over for a fist bump. I got one from Rea when they came off to go into the changing room.
We raced into a two goal lead within 25 minutes through a strike from Brooke and a shot from Ammarah that took a wicked spin off a divot. Just before half time, sub Nicole raced into the box from the right wing and had a shot saved but Rea netted the rebound.
As the players came off for half time Jo came over to me and said “Make me play better”. She held out both her hands for a double high five. I was touched.
In the second half Enfield came out fighting and soon pulled two goals back. That woke Atleti up and we started to forge forward more, while the defence held firm. We were awarded a penalty, which some of the Enfield fans standing just along from me - and, by the look of it, a couple of their players on the field - disputed, but the Enfield keeper saved it.
Soon after, Brooke made it 4-2 with a shot in off the crossbar. The Enfield fans just down from me thought the ball hadn’t crossed the line, and one of them joked about VAR. One less sporting home fan, walking past me, said “How much did they pay the ref?”
At the final whistle, a friendlier Enfield fan talked to me about the game and asked where we’re based. He knew our ground in Barkingside. He reflected that the ball might not have crossed the line but that even without that goal we’d still have won. I replied “It’s just one of those things. Remember Geoff Hurst in 1966.”
And, I thought to myself, we had a perfectly good goal disallowed at Harpenden a few weeks ago. Swings and roundabouts.
Rea thanked me for coming again when the girls came off. Jo high-fived me again and said “Not my best game but we still got the three points”. She gave me a lovely smile as she headed down the tunnel.
Somehow failed to notice the train back from Brimsdown stopping at Tottenham Hale, so I ended up at Liverpool Street. No sweat - Elizabeth Line to Tottenham Court Road and then Northern Line to Waterloo.
Train home nice and not too busy. Passed the time with a selection of songs from YouTube and Amazon Music on my headphones.
And, nearing home, heard the announcement that Jodie Prenger has signed up for another year on Corrie. Rejoicing.
