BFC 2-2 (5-4 pens) Fleetwood Town, Wednesday 13th August 2025

‘Double U?’ ‘No, W’

It’s home game #2 of a run of 3 in 8 days. No wonder there’s not many of us here (3,259). All of us home fans are also ‘packed’ into the East Stand, so 2 sides are empty, and there’s only 165 taking up nearly 6,000 seats in the away end. But it’s sunny, warm, and there’s a buzz amongst those there which exceeded far bigger crowds last season. Plus Coach Conor has named a pretty strong team, including experienced heads like DKD and Russell. New signing Watson starts at right back, while Kelly is given his full debut in midfield, next to Bland. Shepherd is back from his suspension, and he’s with Conor Barrett at the back, our 4th central defensive partnership in 4 games.

And I have to say...it works. We are ALL OVER THEM. Been a while since I’ve seen such a one-sided game. I think Cleary (on the left wing this time, rather than Satdy’s right) has more touches than their team. He’s Cleary (!) on a different level to them. Time and again he beats his man and puts a cross in. Russell heads in early doors and DKD misses 2 chances, an easy sidefoot and a difficult volley. (I hope the scouts were watching.) It’s too easy. And what happens when it’s too easy? They score.

We are 2 seconds off the end of 1st half injury time when a corner is swung in. Does it flick in off someone? Does it go in unaided? I’ve since looked at it a dozen times on t’internet and I’ve no idea. I see Barrett runs to the front post and gets under the ball. Could he have jumped a bit higher? Equally though, even if it does clear him, a ball shouldn’t harmlessly run into the far corner. You can’t have NOBODY on it. A player on the far post would have cleared it too. The usual bugbear about marking space versus having a man on the (back) post.

So there it is, one-way traffic and somehow it’s one-all. In a weird prelude to their goal though, they’d also had an effort disallowed earlier, the ball going in direct from a THROW-IN! This took me back to the Premiership promotion season. Opening home game, we go a goal down to Huddersfield as Dave Watson pulls his arms back from touching the ball cos he knows no-one has touched it. Unlike that day, this ref knew the rules. (We went on to beat Hudds 3-1, a possible sliding doors moment averted.)

Coach Conor brings on Leo Farrell at HT. Whohellhe? (Ans: from the juniors). DKD is off. Oh dear, who’s gonna take us through now? Thankfully, Cleary carries on as before, strips the fullback, whips a ball in and an idiot defender sticks a leg out to deflect home. Easy, easy! Farrell then has the chance to extend the lead but the keeper saves. If he never scores a goal for Barnsley, he’ll regret trying to take it round the keeper rather than dink it over him.

On the hour, Yoganathan and Farrugia are sent on for Bland and Vickers, before Coach Conor sends on Captain Fantastic Connell (for Shepherd; I can’t remember what tactical nonsense we verted to. If reverting is going back to something, would ‘vert’ be to do something for the 1st time?) Anyway, if by ‘seeing out’ you mean ‘hitting a glorious penalty into the top corner in a penalty shootout’, Coach Conor got it bang on. If so, this bloke has the Midas touch.

Yes, we’re into injury time and it’s just so, so easy. As it was in the 1st half. But there’s some confusion as Coach Conor wants to make a sub. Cleary thinks it’s him, but it turns out to be Ogbeta. Now, I’ve heard of people mixing up their blacks, but I’ve never heard of a black person mistaking HIMSELF for another black person. Anyway, the message eventually gets through to Cleary that he’s not being offered his standing ovation for a job well done and that he’s on till the end. I don’t think he’s in the right head space either, as within a minute he fails to track back, leading to an overlap on their right and the ball pulled back to be swept home. To err once (conceding in 1st half injury time) is human. To do it twice (conceding in 2nd half injury time) is careless.

Thank goodness it went straight to pens. When was the last time anyone saw a decent extra-time? We go 1st, are always in front, but Kelly finds the bar with what would have been the winner. Honestly, it’s an inch from being perfect, top corner. Still, it’s somehow fitting that Cleary scores the winner (6th pen) even though we had to wait for keeper Cooper to save. Rovrum at home next. Let the celebrations begin!

Onwards and upwards!

*** Cleary. Just give him the ball.
** Kelly. Ran centre mid.
* Bland. As above. The front 4 don’t get the ball without a base.

Official MOTM: Cleary

Londontykes’ MOTM: 1. Cleary 2. Kelly 3. Bland

Despatches:
I was with Lord S in the ticket office pre-match. No problems buying my ticket (though £2 extra on the day – NONE of BFC’s messages on ‘socials’, or even their ticketing page, told me THAT) but I had to leave the office as I was cracking up. ‘How do you spell your name?’ ‘… W’ ‘Double U?’ ‘No, W’ ‘Double U?’ Anyway, we got in, only missing 5 minutes.

This is a minor thing (hopefully) and just a sign of rustiness, but three times the ball ended up out of play due to a misunderstanding between Vickers and Russell. Both showed their class at times (after opening their legs?) but with each other…they need more practice.

Drink du jour: Karate and Friendship pale ale (very nice) and Hazy Rider New England IPA (bit dodgy – was it ‘off’? Or is that it’s normal taste?) at Heaven and Ale.

Away: 165 (3,259)

The Damage:
£16 ent
c.£8 petrol
= c.£24

Fleetwood Town 1-2 BFC, Saturday 17th February 2024

‘Yer not goin’ up there are ya? Yer a bunch o’ f***ing elephants!’

I’ll miss these games when we get promotion (!). Quiet, backwater town, friendly locals, chance to stand on terracing…and sitting in a pub while Nice Guy Chris recites lines from In Bruges. I have to admit, for a film I really like, I remember nothing about it. Is it better than Chris acting it out? Surely not. (Tho he needs to work on his Irish accent. At least I remember THAT...it’s about a couple of Irish hitmen hiding out In Bruges.)

I’ll also miss winning. It hasn’t dawned on me till now, as week after week of unconvincing wins pass by, that my last 13 league games have registered 9 victories and zero defeats. And this was another one (a zero defeat) as we progressed past a first half wobble to take the lead, look imperious, then try to hang on in the last 5 minutes.

We went ahead early, in the most satisfactory of ways. Coach Collins finally picked Jordan as a right wing back, as we fans have been telling him to do all season (‘but I don’t have enough decent centre halves to play him out wide...blah blah blah’), and reward comes as Jordan chases down a right wing ball and pulls it back for Phillips to curl one onto Cosgrove’s head. Even the latter can’t miss. He can a few minutes later though, as he’s played clean through, 10 yards out, and by the time he untangles his feet he’s about 6 feet from goal and the keeper is on top of him. Not to worry, I’m sure we’ll have plenty more chances this half. We didn’t.

By now, ‘Super’ Liam Roberts has made one great save from a header, and with the majority of the game in our half, it’s no surprise when the Codheads equalise, a banger of a strike from their number 5 and official MOTM. What a powerhouse he was/is. Into injury time, 90 minutes on the clock, he was still taking on two, three players and shrugging off the likes of Connell as he drove forward. I suspect he’ll not be playing at the Highbury Stadium next season.

Second half, till injury time, was much more comfortable. A sweet move on the hour leaves Phillips free on the right and as the defender comes across, it leaves not one, but two Reds players free in the box (Kane and Cadden). The ball is rolled perfectly into Kane’s path and he rolls it into the bottom right as the keeper desperately dives the opposite way. The ball trickled deliciously into the net, just as it did that crazy own goal they scored the penultimate time I was here (look it up).

Thereafter, we broke time and time again, yet created only one big chance, as a shot on the backpost (McAtee?) was smothered by the keeper. By now Pines was on for his debut (is it his debut? I’ve not been keeping up) and he delivered some MASSIVE headers in that last period, including from a corner into our 6 yard box. I’m not one to get excited…but I’m excited.

Onwards and upwards!

*** Phillips. Is he back to his best? Created both goals and had a blaster from distance ON TARGET.
** Jordan. Not the most exciting of ‘debuts’ at RWB, but solid and had a hand in first goal.
* The Frenchman. Composed.

Official MOTM: Their #5 (Lawal), a dominant figure in midfield.

Londontykes’ MOTM: 1. Phillips 2. De Givigny 3. Cosgrove

Despatches:
I HAVE NOT been able to get Estelle’s ‘American Boy’ out of my head since the weekend. What a serenade throughout the second half by our yoof to our new hero Donovan Pines. I couldn’t quite make out all of the lyrics, I’m sure there was something in there about ‘we got him from DC’. Mind, as ever, they sing it at the wrong speed, like a 33 being played at 45rpm. Still, they’re trying. Barry Cotter seems popular these days too. Even more so when he’s not in the team. (Is it cos he is Donovan’s ‘minder’ in jaunts around tarn?)
20 grand, 20 grand Barry Cotter,
20 grand, 20 grand, I say,
20 grand, 20 grand, Barry Cotter,
Barry Cotter hates the IRA

I presume the last remark is due to Barry’s renowned pacifism and not at all due to the fact he’s of Irish descent. Still, far better to be an inconsistent right wing back who’s 2nd or 3rd now in line, than some 1st team ever present who never gets a chant no matter what...Nicky Cadden, Herbie Kane, Jordan Williams, Adam Phillips...what do they make of these Johnny Come Latelies such as Pines, who we can’t fuss over enough. (You can add Jalo to that too.) That bloke at the fan forum who criticised the current regime for trying to Americanise us would have self-combusted had he heard the ‘USA! USA!’ chants after one of Pines’ monster headers.

This may have passed most by, but I was most impressed by how Pines dealt with a throughball after coming on. For all the world, I thought he’d be outpaced, but he turned, got back between man and ball, and was able to play it nicely back to the keeper. With McCart (not McCourt*, as I kept calling him) back as well, this creates a welcome headache for Collins. Mind, if Pines is playing down the middle, how will The Frenchman react to being right side of a 3? I’ve been convinced all season that part of the reason he’s looked that little bit better than Jordan (on the right) and whoever is on the left, is cos it’s easier being the one in the middle. I just don’t marvel at him as others do. We’ll see.

*You’ll have been proud of me. Twice I was told (by different people) what an amazing player Paddy McCourt was and I bit my tongue and didn’t tell them my opinion. He’d be great in a 5aside team. Otherwise...‘Don’t sell McCourt, Paddy McCourt...’ I always said he’d leave on a free. Rubbish, he was.

Drink du jour: Snowdrop pale ale in The Strawberry. Won’t be winning any awards soon.

Away: 1,131 (sellout). Or 1,130, cos Chris’s wife Jane didn’t make it. (Don’t worry, she’s alive.)

The Damage:
£24 ent
c.£25 petrol= c.£49


*No programmes. I don’t think Fleetwood produce them anymore.

BFC 2-2 Fleetwood Town, Saturday 28th October 2023

An ode to our home shirt: I feel so super In my shirt by Kid Super But what would be bestward Would be Vivienne Westwood And if I want to be dapper... ...it should be by Frank Zappa

I s’pose we should be grateful for the point. For great swathes of the second half, for all we enjoyed copious amounts of possession, shots and promising opportunities, we never looked like we’d score. I don’t know how many low crosses Cadden put in, our forwards were resolute in their refusal to run across defenders into space. And today of all days...against Little Lee. ‘POMO’ (Position of Maximum Opportunity) was pounded again, and again, and again...and no-one in a red shirt made a run. Cotter especially found himself in ‘bomb alley’ countless times, and countless times failed in his mission to ably cross a ball. I can’t remember the last time a player promised so much and delivered so little. His first touch was unbelievable, as he’d take it away from his marker and give himself time and space to...fail spectacularly. My favourite was the one in the first half where he cut inside with his first touch…and dragged it wide from 12 yards. Listen, Bazza, if you can’t kick it with your left foot, PASS IT. If you can’t pass it with your right foot, GET OFF THE PITCH. Otherwise, the amount of times he found himself free…and messed it up, was off the scale.

The shot count was 25-7 (8-4 on target). ‘High wide and not very handsome’ was our mantra. Russell toe poked it wide of an empty net from 3 yards. De Gevigny blazed over from 12. Watters headed a close range header wide. Cole missed a penalty (and tapped in the rebound, phew). Yet we were reliant on the ball of the century from Kane and a reserve right back (O’Keefe) steaming in to crash the header beyond the keeper. (It later transpired O’Keefe had told Kane he’d make this run; could our forwards not do something similar?) 88th minute it was, though that was to ignore the 10 minutes of injury time played. (Point of order, ref, but you didn’t see any need to add any extra time to the extra time? Not even considering their throw-in down in the right corner, which took the best part of a minute?)

But I can’t blame the ref. We’re at home to a side with untold off the field issues (owner banged up for 13 years), a small budget…and managed by Little Lee. Could they be more handicapped? Yet we concede two and need to rely on a pen and a right back to rescue ourselves. We went one down in the third minute, as a complacent defence allows an attack down their left. Ok, the cross got a lucky deflection off Russell that drops nice for Quitirna, but the keeper hardly covers himself in glory, standing still and staring instead of haring out of his goal Schmeichel-style. Their second is a wonderful free kick into the top corner by the same player. Get him signed.

Inbetween, we have our obligatory row over who takes the penalty. I say obligatory. We waited two and half years for a home pen, and now we’ve had 2 in 2 games. The other nite Kane, Cole and Styles needed to have a conversation (understandable; perhaps they never thought they’d see the day when we got another pen). Today, it’s Cole and Kane. Cole won the pen, nipping in front of the keeper (so he CAN make that run!) and being brought down, so he obvs thinks he should have it. But Kane took it the other nite and scored (not necessarily convincingly, IMHO). Anyway, Cole won’t let go of the ball and Kane is forced to retreat, putting the hex on our star striker. Luckily, the poor effort is palmed nicely back and it’s one-all. The Fleetwood lead has lasted all of 4 minutes and now we march on to inevitable victory.

Onwards and upwards!

*** Cadden. Endless supply.
** Kane. Kept the game moving, hit 2 excellent shots and created the equaliser with a sublime pass.
* McCart. Tidy (and ignored, what with the clamour for The Frenchman).

Official MOTM: McAtee

Londontykes’ POTY: 1= Cadden/Kane 3. McCart

Despatches:
Some interesting tactical decisions from the manager. O’Keefe for Cotter was standard (though how he made it to 63 minutes is anyone’s guess). No, what perplexed me was dragging off Cadden (and McAtee) with about 10 left, for Dodgson and Jalo. I couldn’t see Dodgson improving on Cadden’s output, but what’s this? Cole is now on the left wing (and actually getting into the game, I think he got 2 shots off, long range, no danger). Watters is already on (for Russell) and with Jalo and Cole, it looks like Collins is aimlessly chucking on forwards. And maybe he is. There’s that many forwards on the pitch, Fleetwood don’t notice O’Keefe sneaking in.

The players? I’ve not noticed him before, but I really enjoyed watching McCart today. Solid, covered well, good passing. Williams and The Frenchman were dominant (how DID we concede 2?). In midfield, Phillips had a couple of nice touches, but that was it (hauled off for the equally ineffectual Benson) while Russell...I dunno. He inadvertently set up their opener, but at half-time a few of us marvelled at Russell knocking it past an opponent, making a start towards the ball, then pulling up as he realised that however slowly the ball was rolling, it was too fast for him to make it before it went out for a throw-in. I felt for him. I’m that slow as well these days (but I’m a week or so off 50).

It was also good to see (hear?) the crowd get behind the team in that 2nd half, as Oakwell was a morgue the first. Yes, we were kicking towards the Ponty, trying to force an equaliser, but I’m sure everyone had a better time once we started making some noise. It was almost like it used to be. Ok, I’m exaggerating. It was nearly almost as good as it once was at home to a middling side on a Tuesday nite in February. But it was a vast improvement on the opening 45.

Oh, and the ref. When was the last time we had an official whose first and last names were homophones? Neil Hare. Kneel Hair? Yes, this is what I’m thinking about when I’m not thinking about Cadden’s crosses, Cotter’s attempts at crosses...and forwards who stare a gift horse straight in the mouth. We should’ve had 6 today.

Drink du jour: Whatever obscure pale ale I’ve never heard of in Spiral City. Very nice.

Away: 223

The Damage:
c.£30 petrol
= c.£30

BFC 2-1 Fleetwood Town, Thursday 29th December 2022

‘Am at football. No, I’m not having that conversation now. I’M AT FOOTBALL.’

I’m sure I saw this game 3 days ago. The Super Reds in complete control against lower end strugglers. Passes popped around with ease. Chances missed. And a baffling performance from the person in black (it’s a ‘he’ this time though…presuming Benjamin Speedie – is that his stage name? – identifies as such). Throw in a dodgy penalty for them, and our own appeals turned down, and I needn’t have bothered going tonite. It was Accrington Stanley away, all over again.

Mind, I nearly never got there. With the A1 knocked out due to an accident, a 90 minute drive took me nearly 4 hours. Good job I set off early, and I was still able to have a drink with Molly and Darrel in Heaven and Ale, followed by pie and peas and a drizzle of mint sauce from the Oakwell Sandwich Shop. It’s important to start with the highlights.

The other highlight, of course, was a late winner, leading to the bizarre sight of a pitch invasion by a 10 year old. As said kid is lead off by stewards, a row breaks out in the old Main Stand paddock from whence he came. If you haven’t seen the story, 2 stewards end up in hospital and another couple are treated at the scene. Higher casualty figures than when we play Washday or Dirty Leeds. But it does bode one safeguarding question…can you throw a child out of a football ground? What happens if something happens to him outside? Equally, as BFC are threatening to ban the parent, I’d be straight on to the missus (‘Can you say you took him, cos then you get barred, not me?’)…anyway, I said last night was history repeating itself, even down to the casual misogyny that presumes it’s dad who takes junior to Oakwell…

Yes, we WON!!!! Which didn’t occur the other day. It was all happening. After their soft penalty, Norwood goes down in instalments (even his dives are done in slow-mo) and the ref….’it’s like de ja vous all over again’ (sorry, I’m contractually bound to mention my favourite Shaka Hislop quote of all time at least once a season)….decides, as a sop to everyone, that it’s a corner. Listen, bud, it’s a penalty or a goalkick. But I’ll help you – it’s a goal kick. Manager ‘Super’ Michael Duffy obviously agrees with the one-eyed Ponty End and gets himself sent off for his troubles. It’s one-all, time is running out, and we are DESPERATE. So, who better to step up than no-sung hero Jason Cundy, with a banging header from Connell’s outswinger. YOU BEAUTY.

I said we’d been in total control, earlier. Indeed, once Norwood opened the scoring, you couldn’t see any other result. 1-0 to Barnsley. Great finish too, as Kitching had the vision to play a neat ball left, inside the penalty area and Norwood turned and hammered it high into the net from an angle. (I’d be disappointed if I was the keeper who conceded from there though.) From here, like Stanley on Boxing Day, there’s no way back from this. BUT THERE IS! Never, NEVER rule out a w*nker in black luminous yellow finding a penalty from nothing for the opposition. The ball is played through and Mads glances at their player before lifting his arms to avoid contact. The player deliberately runs across Mads and trips. He is running away from goal. There is simply nothing in it for Mads to commit this foul. The same opponent gets up and despatches the pen.

That was all second half. The opening half was us dissecting them and our comedy forward line failing to bag. ‘Norwood was everywhere’ someone said. If he was, he was getting there 10 mins after everyone else. In attack, he was often left behind as 4 other teammates overtook him. To his credit though, he delivered 2 absolute peaches into the box (think Harry Kane, the way he whips in crosses that Harry Kane would want). One of these unfortunately falls to Devante Cole, who studs the ball to the keeper from 4 yards. Where’s Super Sammy Winnall when you need him!? Apart from that, all our ‘class’ brought was a poor 20 yard effort from Kane (Herbie) which went wide.

Onwards and upwards!

*** Mads. A colossus. Won everything, up high or down low.
** Connell. Doesn’t just win it and tap it to another player, capable of a long pass too.
* Kitching. Like Mads, intercepted a couple of potentially defence splitting passes, as well as getting up in attack.

Official MOTM: Was it Connell?

Londontykes’ MOTM: 1. Norwood 2. Andersen 3. Kitching

Despatches:
Cole got the hook to give our 17 year old Portuguese midget a run out and it worked – Jalo ran about and was a general pest (though his little legs made no inroads on an opposition player striding out). Still, he took one for the team by disrupting a counter attack at the cost of a yellow. Maybe he has the making of a professional yet. Collins’ timewasting began in the 71st minute this week, as he held onto it for 20 seconds. Funnily enough, he was a bit quicker once they equalised. I was a bit quicker late on too, getting home in an hour and a half. Special mention to Norwood too, for completing 90 minutes. COYR!

Drink du jour: CLWB Tropica at Heaven and Ale.

Away: 222. Unusually, their vocal element didn’t huddle at the back like every other team, they were in the middle of the stand, by the exit (sensible).

Today’s take home: R.I.P. Pele. (Tenuous Reds’ link….we played Pele’s old team Santos in a friendly, Premiership season.)

The Damage:
£29 travel (petrol)
= £29

The Tunes:
The Line is a Curve (Kae Tempest)
Muzik Slam Mix (Soma)
BBC 6Music
BBC5Live
BBC Radio 4
Paint the Sky with Stars – The Best of Enya (Enya)
Best of Chas ‘n’ Dave (Chas ‘n’ Dave)*

*a recent charity shop purchase. Unbearable, had to turn it off after 5 tracks.

Fleetwood Town 0-1 BFC, Saturday 1st October 2022

‘Barnsley’s a sh*thole, you wanna go home’

Ahhh, this is the life. Exec box, beer on tap, 3 course meal, North London derby on telly pre-match…to hell with life with the plebeians. Maybe I should take Tory advice and just get one of those well-paying jobs, now that they’ve just reduced the rate of tax for higher earners**? Throw in a last minute winner and we’ve the ingredients for Lou Reed’s ‘A Perfect Day’. Was he waxing lyrical about a day in Fleetwood…or an afternoon on the old heroin?

**Oh. They’ve changed their minds. It’s back to where it was last week. Turns out they’re ‘the Party who listen’. How many reverse-ferrets will this woman make before the Tories jettison another leader? Mind, if they listen, why haven’t they f***ed off yet? Sorry, where was I?

We’re lording it up cos of Stu, whose mate has the box. (Stu is from these parts, so it was good to meet a few of his school chums.) Only one was an actual Fleetwood fan though…the one who looked like Hicksy! Everyone else supported (Man) City, (Man) Utd or Liverpool. For those wondering what you get fed, the fayre was an improvement on Accrington Stanley (no mushroom soup) but I do prefer my potato to taste of potato and not butter. Why do TV chefs convince us that vegetables are nicer coated in the yellow stuff? Cover potatoes, carrots and peas in butter and they all taste of….butter! I hate butter. The roast parsnip was perfectly formed and the beef was melt in the mouth. Dee-lish.

The chairs were outside the box. As luck would have it, we were at the Barnsley end, seats below, with the away terrace to our left. An inflatable penis bobbed around. Had someone been to Blackpool perchance? Full marks to the stewards, who threw it back when it landed on the pitch. Gotta give Reds fans what they want. Speaking of which, we ran riot 1st half without scoring. Wave after wave of attack, camped in their half….yet all we had to show was a mazy bit of skill from Benson which ended with him hitting the post. Otherwise, the keeper was barely troubled and the closest anyone came to scoring was a rare break from them. The ball dropped, 8 yards out, and instead of sidefooting into the empty 1/3 of the net, the striker hit Cundy (I think). Gift horse well and truly looked at in the mouth.

The orders for beer had been taken and were lined up on our tables as we went back inside. This is the life. At Oakwell, you can queue all half-time and not reach the front (hot refreshments; there’s not such a desperate rush for beer when it’s cold). Which took the edge off the dismal non-event of a second half, where absolutely nothing happened till we sent on our subs. (I’m trying to forget Cole’s header; anyone else might not have headed it straight at the keeper.) With 20 minutes left, Kane and Thomas were hooked for Phillips and Martin. Still nothing. So, with no centre forwards on the bench, Duff sends on Aitchison for Cole with 4 mins left of the 90…..and he only goes and scores with a flick from Norwood’s cross as injury time began. I’m not wearing colours, but I’m a little irritated with the ‘comedian’ further along who thinks it’s funny to be baiting the Reds so I celebrate like a f***ing good un. (Apologies to my host.) I draw the line at going topless though, a la the (grand)dad and kid in the away end. Their loss.

Onwards and upwards!

*** Andersen. Dominant. Winning headers, stepping forward to intercept, setting off attacks.
** Cundy. Confident. Filled in the Mads gaps.
* Aitchison. The game was petering out till his flick.

Londontykes’ MOTM: 1. Andersen 2= Cundy / Jordan Williams / Kitching

Despatches:
After a post-match beer in the box, we were off to the Queens pub, and a sadder sight I’ve not seen in a long time….a pair of poor terrapins inside some small tank. I’m sure they love the locals tapping on the glass while putting up with the noise and intense lighting. Some very sad fish didn’t even have a glass front to peek out of….while there were rumours that if you looked up at the upstairs window, you might see a caged parrot. Sounds like a right animal lover, the landlord. Still, at least it’s still open….helped in part by a birthday party in full swing as we entered.

In more positive news, it was good to see Collins back in goal after his injury at Cambridge, albeit wearing one of those Phantom of the Opera masks. Fleetwood rather nicely didn’t trouble him. Kitching came back too and was excellent at the left hand hand side of the back 3. Williams and Cadden both delivered cross after cross, but they were either too far in front of the forwards (who weren’t great) or else were blocked. They were obviously under instruction to cross it low (understandable with Cole and Norwood’s inability to win a header). Benson had another promising game as #10, though Thomas only showed brief glimpses of his capability. Kane too was quiet.

Drink du jour: Madri, several pints thereof. I have no memory of the pub’s pints…just those poor, poor terrapins. Heartbreaking.

Away: c.1800 (1st sellout of the season).

Today’s take home: ‘Fleetwood’s better than Barrow’ (Sarah).

The Damage:
£31 travel
= £31

The Tunes:
BB6 Music (Radcliffe and Maconie / Huey Morgan)