(no subject)
Nov. 9th, 2008 06:11 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eiffel_71
Got up this morning to find the Sky + box had lost the signal last night and failed to record the second half of TNA Impact. Bollocks.
Today was the Brentford match. Went over to Westleigh Park early to make sure of getting a seat; arrived at 11.50 am to find there were no queues yet, so after buying a programme from Tracey and a 50/50 draw ticket from Aly (who blew on it for good luck, drawing accusations of favouritism from Tracey which led Aly to reply that I'd give her half the money if I won) I hit the clubhouse bar for a Kopparberg.
Moved into the ground just before 12.30, stopped at the tea hut for a hot dog, chips and a Coke (FA rules dictated that today the drinks had to be served in topless bottles) and settled down into a seat near the back of the stand. Passed the hour and a half before kick-off reading Non-League Today.
Just before kickoff Paula from my office texted asking me to let her know the score at the end. A few minutes in, Vanessa texted to say she'd just seen me on the telly. For the first 40 minutes neither side looked like scoring a goal, but the Brentford goalie was lucky to get away with a talking-to and a (wasted) free kick when he stopped a Hawks attack by handling the ball just outside the box. Hawks were holding their own, and I firmly believed we could keep the game scoreless and earn a replay at Brentford...until Williams of Brentford pounced on a shot that Scrivs had blocked and fired home.
I didn't win the 50/50 draw.
The game plodded along with no clear chances for 20 minutes after the restart, then Brentford scored a second with a header from a corner. I thought that was game over, but after Charlie Henry and Brett Poate came on as subs Hawks staged a mini-revival and Ian Simpemba pulled one back with a bullet header. A few minutes after that, there were several Hawks players in a scramble in front of an open goal, but the keeper got a foot to the ball first; it then went to the head of Paul Booth, and we all thought Boothy's header was going in for the equaliser but amazingly a defender cleared it off the line. Then Brentford went straight down the other end, MacDonald crossed, and Elder got on the end of it and knocked the ball past Scriven to finally kill us off.
At the final whistle I texted Paula to let her know; she replied that she'd been watching the game at Jane's and added "There is always next year". I didn't answer; right now my only hope for next season is to still be in the same league. Met Hayley on the way out. We were held at the barrier till the players made their way off the pitch - we all clapped them down the tunnel - then it was the walk to the station in the cold. On the platform, the coffee shop was an oasis of warmth; about half a dozen Hawks were all queuing there. I went for a regular mocha - not bad, but didn't quite live up to the perfect ones at Southampton yesterday.
Joined Mike, John and Mike's dad out on the platform and we picked the bones of the game. We all agreed that Hawks' problem is lack of firepower up front. Mike suggested we should sign the Bournemouth striker Lee Bradbury; John was also enthusiastic about that idea and we all agreed he could do a good job for us. But would he drop down from the Football League, and could Hawks afford him?... We all talked about upcoming matches on the train.
Walking from Portsmouth Harbour station to the Gosport ferry, it started to rain.
Today was the Brentford match. Went over to Westleigh Park early to make sure of getting a seat; arrived at 11.50 am to find there were no queues yet, so after buying a programme from Tracey and a 50/50 draw ticket from Aly (who blew on it for good luck, drawing accusations of favouritism from Tracey which led Aly to reply that I'd give her half the money if I won) I hit the clubhouse bar for a Kopparberg.
Moved into the ground just before 12.30, stopped at the tea hut for a hot dog, chips and a Coke (FA rules dictated that today the drinks had to be served in topless bottles) and settled down into a seat near the back of the stand. Passed the hour and a half before kick-off reading Non-League Today.
Just before kickoff Paula from my office texted asking me to let her know the score at the end. A few minutes in, Vanessa texted to say she'd just seen me on the telly. For the first 40 minutes neither side looked like scoring a goal, but the Brentford goalie was lucky to get away with a talking-to and a (wasted) free kick when he stopped a Hawks attack by handling the ball just outside the box. Hawks were holding their own, and I firmly believed we could keep the game scoreless and earn a replay at Brentford...until Williams of Brentford pounced on a shot that Scrivs had blocked and fired home.
I didn't win the 50/50 draw.
The game plodded along with no clear chances for 20 minutes after the restart, then Brentford scored a second with a header from a corner. I thought that was game over, but after Charlie Henry and Brett Poate came on as subs Hawks staged a mini-revival and Ian Simpemba pulled one back with a bullet header. A few minutes after that, there were several Hawks players in a scramble in front of an open goal, but the keeper got a foot to the ball first; it then went to the head of Paul Booth, and we all thought Boothy's header was going in for the equaliser but amazingly a defender cleared it off the line. Then Brentford went straight down the other end, MacDonald crossed, and Elder got on the end of it and knocked the ball past Scriven to finally kill us off.
At the final whistle I texted Paula to let her know; she replied that she'd been watching the game at Jane's and added "There is always next year". I didn't answer; right now my only hope for next season is to still be in the same league. Met Hayley on the way out. We were held at the barrier till the players made their way off the pitch - we all clapped them down the tunnel - then it was the walk to the station in the cold. On the platform, the coffee shop was an oasis of warmth; about half a dozen Hawks were all queuing there. I went for a regular mocha - not bad, but didn't quite live up to the perfect ones at Southampton yesterday.
Joined Mike, John and Mike's dad out on the platform and we picked the bones of the game. We all agreed that Hawks' problem is lack of firepower up front. Mike suggested we should sign the Bournemouth striker Lee Bradbury; John was also enthusiastic about that idea and we all agreed he could do a good job for us. But would he drop down from the Football League, and could Hawks afford him?... We all talked about upcoming matches on the train.
Walking from Portsmouth Harbour station to the Gosport ferry, it started to rain.
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no subject
Date: 2008-11-09 09:48 pm (UTC)Well, here's hoping that we can knock them out in a later round for you.
no subject
Date: 2008-11-11 09:51 pm (UTC)Cheers mate! Hope you win the whole bloody thing. If that motley lot just down the road from me can, I'm sure you can do it :)