Geordie Al's Groundhopper Scrapbook: BFC 3-0 Walsall, Saturday 14th May 2016

Sunday 15 May 2016

BFC 3-0 Walsall, Saturday 14th May 2016

'He's sh*t, he's lame, he scores in every game.'

The message is clear: build a better Barnsley by knocking it down.

In news hot off the press, I am an idiot. On the train up, having just discussed how to get to Walsall for the 2^nd leg, Dave asks me why I’m marking a bunch of books. ‘Well, I’ve gotta get through them. It’s Year 8 Parents Evening on Thursday.’ Oh. We make the play-offs approximately once every blue moon and I can’t make the away leg cos of a prior commitment. Still, at least it’s on telly. And we’re 3-0 up so it won’t matter anyway (!)

The Barnsley diet: Percy Turners and pure lard

YES! Three-nil up from the 1^st leg. Dreamland. Word in the pub beforehand was we’d take a draw, or even a 0-1, cos we know we’ll destroy Walsall away and, besides, Walsall have the best away record in the division. The Super Reds make all of this a nonsense. We cruise it, SSW scoring twice and putting one foot and a couple of arms into that there game at Wembley. Cancel the camping trip I have planned for the Bank Holiday.

Must be a big game; crowd outside Walkabout

I thought we were comfortable throughout, even though they missed 3 decent chances. The least they could have done was test Davies, which they barely did. Hecky’s comment that we’d be in a better position cos of our big game experience this season was prescient; Walsall completely bottled it, despite having nearly 60% possession. (40% is the new 60% anyway; ask Leicester.)

When was the last time this was full?

I wasn’t even sat in my usual seat, so that didn’t jinx us. My dad took his mate, so, as I perused the upper tier on t’web, I hit on an idea: I’d go in the Ponty. There might even be an atmosphere! The good old days! And what an atmosphere. It was buzzing throughout. It was a bit like Wigan last week, a full stand of Reds behind the goal getting behind their team. I was a bit gutted though that my seat in Row Z didn’t catch any crosses from the ghost of Tom Williams. But if Wigan was my fave away game of the season…and Oxford my fave neutral…then this has to be my favourite home game – of years. It really was brilliant and anyone not there missed out. Well, if you insist on living in Vienna, Adelaide, Bergen, Singapore, Witney, etc…

It's a beautiful day...I'm coming over all U2.

The crowd were never wavering in their support and we got our reward just before half time. Having already had a goal (wrongly) disallowed for offside (Isgrove sliding in Hammill’s sublime cross), SSW pulls a ball back across goal for Hammill to sidefoot into an empty net. Only he misses the goal completely, it hits a defender, and still goes in. Who says we never get lucky? This is compounded early in the 2^nd half when Winnall actually manages to put his foot through a shot (I didn’t think he had it in him) and it loops in over the keeper. Who says we never get lucky? I make that 3 deflected goals in 2 games. Still, as Alan Shearer would say, ‘if you don’t buy a ticket…’.

YOOOOUUUUU REDS!!!!!!!!!!!!

A couple of minutes later and Super Sammy Winnall has topped becoming the world’s worst 22 goal a season striker (last week) to being the world’s worst 24 goals a season striker this. And fair play, it’s a great goal, as he bursts through a couple of challenges and lifts the balls over the keeper with his left. The finish was reminiscent of THAT Michael Owen goal against Argentina (though obviously, SSW is a better player than HIM). I am another 20 pounds lighter thanks to that second goal. Thanks, Sammy.

Under the stand at half time.

It’s 3-0 and there’s more than half an hour to go. While we never actually showboated, we never really went for the jugular. Several times we broke 3 on 3, but the end product wasn’t there. Will we live to regret such generosity? I know we nearly did, when they broke and they shunned a golden opportunity. Thus, the tie is neatly poised – in our favour. But go a goal down early in the 2nd leg and Walsall could still make something of this game. Let’s not make history by becoming the 1^st side to throw away a three goal 1^st leg play off lead.

*** SSW. Scores 2, sets up another. Always liked him.
** Roberts. Wins everything AND can play.
* Isgrove. Ran around. He likes running around. Though should’ve squared it once instead of being greedy.

Londontykes Top 3:
*** Roberts ** Winnall * Isgrove

pre-match panorama.

Despatches:
I don’t know where to start. They were all great.

Onwards and upwards!

Drink du jour: A 6.5% IPA, followed by an Erdinger, then the IPA again…followed by vodka, orange and champagne (not all together) on the train. Y’know, together with the lie in this morning, I could really go for 5:30 kick-offs in a big way. Not sure I need to be paying £4 for a programme though, however many colour photos I get. Did I fall asleep on the bus? I can't actually remember. Maybe I didn't. I know I fell asleep on the couch. Went to bed at half four. Deleriously happy.

Away: Just over 2,000. They didn’t look very lively either. Shellshocked?‘East Stand, give us a song ……

West Stand, give us a song ……Walsall, give us a song …..’

The Damage:
£15 ent
£36 travel
£4 prog
£4 scarf (half price)
£5 t-shirt (half price)
= £64