‘S*** stand, give us a song’
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| Welcome to .... |
Who wasn’t excited today? A first (last?) visit to Wimbledon’s Kingsmeadow stadium and the latest away match buying frenzy from the Oakwell faithful. I think folk needed 10 away match vouchers to qualify in the initial tranche and the 700 or so tickets were soon snapped up. Fortunately, by hook or by crook, the Londontykes were out in force, along with the S.H.I.T.S. (South Hampshire Independent Tyke Supporters), most of whom met early doors at the Albion pub in Kingston. Despite efforts to the contrary from Google Maps, I got there. But at least I managed to take in the full glory of Kingston, all quaint mansion houses and mock Tudor. Or b) concrete and a swirl of main roads. I thought Kingston was meant to be NICE? Makes Peckham look salubrious.
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| Top boozer. |
The ground was a 15 minute walk away and at least we had a leader in us this time, Chris’s Fulham supporting mate. Come to see a decent team? Anyway, a walk past the tower blocks of Kingston / Norbiton (I was told). Felt more Millwall than Wimbledon. Then to the ground, and let’s be honest, about as non-league as you can get. Once the home of Kingstonian, you can’t accuse Wimbledon of hypocrisy, kicking out the former owners to make a bit of cash out of Chelsea. There’s a piece of me with just that little bit less sympathy for Wimbledon’s ‘issues’ over the years. (It must be 20 years since we beat the Wombles 1-0 at Selhurst Park – Mike Sheron!!! – and their fans turned their backs on the pitch in protest at the possibility of their owners selling up and moving the club out of London.)
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| Prepare yourselves... |
Oh yes, that non-league stadium of theirs. Once through the turnstiles, one small entrance onto the terrace, and, needing to pee, I wasn’t allowed to join my mates, as ‘the stand is full’. To be fair, I wondered why the area of terrace near the corner flag was partitioned off - it was an overspill area for late arrivals to stand in. Anton and I got our flags up on some metal fencing and then settled by the corner flag. Christ, it’s a long way to that far end, but I did see some blond fella half volley us into the lead 20 or so mins in. Great finish. Looked like Ben Williams, but can’t be him – left back on the right hand hand side? McGeehan? Dunno. Problies Cauley, cos we know he can hit a ball (EFL League One Goal of the Month for December, btw). It was Cauley.
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| The view from the corner. That's the teams lining up. Over there. |
We are cruising, albeit Pinnock’s made 3 big clearing headers, as well as being on the cover a couple of times. From one of the latter, he fouls and is rightly carded. We are further punished when the inswinger comes in and is flicked into the net. So easy. Either side of the goal, their keeper makes 4 outstanding saves. Davies joins in too, tipping one over, before the Wombles nearly hit the jackpot on the stroke of half-time. Somehow, somehow, their bloke drags it wide from about 3 yards, with Davies diving the wrong way. I’ve still no idea how it didn’t go in. There’s a reason they’re bottom of the league. (Mind, despite their predicament, we are the 1st side to hit 4 against them this season.)
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| Davies readies himself for action. |
At half time I fought my way against the traffic to get into the stand with the others. What a view. I couldn’t see any of the near touchline, stripping about 10 yards off the pitch. ‘Worst view I’ve ever had’ said one of the oldies (older than me, anyway). All around, all I could hear was moaning. I thought that was MY job? You’d have thought we were getting hammered. 6 mins into the second half and their tune changed, as Mowatt, wide right, cut back onto his only foot and curled in a ball for Moore to head home. The kind of cross, and kind of goal, we should be scoring every week with Kiefer up front.
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| How to describe the away terrace? Cosy. |
Thereafter, we took the game by the boll*cks and steamrollered ‘em. A ball ran loose on the left and Thiam rifled home yet another. He looks a worldbeater when he doesn’t have to think about it. Then we thought we scored a 4th, when, in a goalmouth scramble, the ball seems to hit the net. No goal. The consensus is it must have been a hand which moved the net. I’ve since watched a replay of it 10 times and I think the ball AND a hand hits the net. Good job we’re so far down the leagues we don’t have a goal decision system! (We do: it’s called a ref and linesman.)
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| 'I've got a shed....as big as this.' |
Luckily, it makes no odds. McGeehan (back home whence he came) strokes the ball in after Thiam’s cross is half-cleared. The former is making a habit of this, casually strolling into the box at exactly the right time (as opposed to steaming in and hoping for the best). I really like him. 4-1 to the Super Reds, a 20+ pass move amid chants of ‘It’s just like watching Brazil’…and a return to the good old (recent) days with a few rounds of ‘Adam Hammill is a red’. He’s only gone and equalised on his debut against Sunderland. I knew he could make a difference for us this season!
Onwards and upwards!
*** McGeehan. Flits about midfield with his mate Mowatt, running the show.
** Pinnock. Another imperious effort, though not needed for the 2nd half.
* Mowatt. Another goal created, another confident performance.
Londontykes' MOTM: 1. McGeehan 2. Mowatt 3. Thiam
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| Note nets over stand (for Thiam?) |
Despatches:
Davies caught and kicked well and made A save. Williams had another promising game at left back (though booked and later taken off as a precaution). Cavare looked comfortable, without being marauding. I never noticed Lindsay, aside to say he was NOT giving the ball away. I was a bit surprised to see Pinnock doing all the heading 1st half tho. The midfield excelled again. Brown looks a ready-made replacement for Potts (haven’t we done well?) and the ‘442 with Pottsy on the wing’ was changed to ‘Browny’. Dougall came on for 20 minutes and shored things up, but we’d won it by then. Nearly forgot: Thiam. A decent attacking prospect on the left. Appeared to beat his man with ease, scored another blistering effort…then proceeded to hit anything but the barn door. I’ve come to the conclusion that if he scores, we should take him off straightaway. (I know, I know, my other idea is to not play him in the 1st place.) Cauley got himself taken off just before half-time. Worrying when you can’t even make it to the break…hopefully it’s not serious. Great finish for his goal. Kiefer? An enigma today. I thought it was one of the worst games I’ve seen him play. Control suspect, vision non-existent (missing a chance to play someone in by holding it too long). Good job he scored. Taken off soon after his inability to pass the ball, Stendal was apparently seething.
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| 'Ohhhh Michael Van Gerwen' |
Drink du jour: East London brewed wheat beer (I forget the make). Tasted like a cross between normal normal lager and wheat beer, ie, not as nice as the stuff Johnny Foreigner brews. And talking of Johnny Foreigner, howthehell did I end up in a conversation pre-match with a Barnsley Brexiteer. You don’t know how much I had to bite my lip…
Away: 700 and some (capacity). About 74 seated. How the f*** can a league team offer 70 odd seats to visitors???
The Damage:
£17 ent
£3 prog
= £20…and whatever a day travelcard amounts to from zones 2-6.
The Tunes:
30 Something (Carter USM)
Music for the Jilted Generation (The Prodigy)
Ou est la maison du fromage? (John Cooper Clarke)
ps, it would have been my mum’s birthday on Friday. She’d have been 65 and been able to call herself a pensioner. Enjoy life while you can.
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| Kingsmeadow panorama |
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| Match action |
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| Later arrivals bag the best perch. Well done Courthouse Reds! |
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| Watching them...watching us...watch the action. |
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| A disappointed Cauley leaves early. |
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| Necks craned for a slightly less s*** view. |
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| Big Brother is watching US. |
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