The day began at Weatherspoons where I headed down to with my sister Jess, as we had planned to meet Russelov for his precious 19th birthday. Happy Birthday Aylesham White. She had a nice Mixed Grill while I just necked too many pints of Carlsberg while we waited for him. The nice little lad with a huge fucking head eagerly showed us all his balloons, party poppers and glow-sticks upon his arrival. He even managed to finish a pint within 25 minutes. Kudos to you Russell.
Next up Sam kindly gave us a lift to Crabble, including my sister who suddenly decided that she wanted to come to the game. Upon arriving at le Crabble, everybody was absolutely chuffed to bits to see me like they normally are. What I love about huddling outside waiting for the coach is that everybody wants to have a conversation with me and its so great to see all these smiley faces. Even though the coach was running a couple of minutes late it was great to be surrounded by such wonderful company. One of them people is Alex Wilshaw and his lovely girlfriend Camilla.
The coach journey on the way up consisted of typical journey conversations. Football, sex, sing-songs and general piss-taking. Obviously I am always on the receiving end of the latter, whether is be for being clinically overweight, for being annoying or for being a homosexual (ironically enough I have touched more punani than some of those who make that accusation). On the way up we also learned that Glen Southam had become our latest signing. Now I must confess, I am a bit indifferent to this signing. I believe we turned him down earlier this summer because he wanted too much and I already believe that our strong is strong enough with enough quality in depth. However, he does have a great pedigree and was excellent for Dagenham in the football league a few years ago so he should provide us a lot of quality. I just hope he doesn't turn out to be an expensive unneccessary waste of money, like "£790" Southall was for us.
The only thing else to come out of the journey was a really crap song I created for the talismanic Billy Bricknell. "Oooh Eeee Oooh Ahhh Ahhh, Ting Tang Walla Walla Bricknell" as many of you will realise from the cheesey crap pop song about a decade ago. Funnily enough, It hit off and everybody quite enjoyed it. Hopefully it will stay as a one-night thing though as it sucks! But saying that, we do need some new songs for our new players so feel free to start getting working on a few, and preferabbly non-recycled stuff too.
After a couple of bevvies and about an hour on the road, we were in deepest, darkest Essex. Now, it didn't get off to a good start. I was hoping to pay for a student/under 15 price like I usually do for away games. Unfortunately they had strict twats on the turnstiles and I had to pay £12 for an Adult. Twelve fucking quid to get into Ship Lane! No wonder why their crowds are so low. That really knocked me off my budget, and once I got into the bar it turned out their beer prices have gone up by about 30 or 40p since we last visited in January. Not good! I do however really like their bar as there is a good amount of seating in there and we always take it over. Me and Adrian also spoke to Shanghai, of conference south forum fame. He seemed like a friendly bloke but it got even better when UNCLE JOHN steamed in out of nowhere and planted a smacker on my head! Yes John! Rather amusingly he had missed the turning for Thurrock and ended up going over the Dartford crossing, having to pay £3 for getting in and out of Kent! Never mind, it was worth it for him.
I actually thought we were really poor in the first half. We were so disjointed and I don't think we created a single serious chance within the first 44 minutes. Saying that, Thurrock looked much improved from last season. I did not realise they had signed Glen Poole, Paul Terry and Lee Boylan over the summer, 3 players who are capable of excelling at this level. They had us under the back foot for the majority of the first half but didn't really carve out any chances. It was such a lacklustre first half that I decided to walk round to the bar a few minutes before the end. Then suddenly as me and Russell walked round to the corner flag I saw Harry Baker race through before finishing excellently just inside the area. RESULT! Not very deserved but it was vital to score just before half-time as it gave us a real boost going into the second half.
One of the other things I like about Thurrocks ground is that you can drink beer on the terraces. Now I'm not a massive fan of plastic glasses but this is always a bonus. Also a bonus was John Terry being at the ground watching his brother play. Now, I'm not a fan of the overrated morally corrupt cunt but I will give him credit due where its due for having the decency to sign autographs and pose for pictures with various Dover fans at half-time. I kind of regret not having my photo with him because I'm a fame whore, but then again whats the point if I don't actually like that person?
Anyway, back to the beer again. I had to be extremely careful not to spill when the fucking supreme Billy Bricknell nodded in from the far-post after excellent work and cross from Luke I'anson, just after the interval. Billy Bricknell is rapidly winning over our hearts, he really does look mustard. I've decided I am going to join Kingy and Russell in getting his name printed on my home shirt when I can afford to buy it.
But if his headed goal was decent, then the next two goals were absolutely sublime. On the 56th minute Harry Baker thundered in a tremendous half volley from the right-hand side of the box which absolutely rocketed into the top left corner after excellent work from Ashton down the left-wing. The technique was brilliant and it demonstrated what excellence Baker is capable of. Good on him as he's been written off at times by many included myself. He proved that he is more than capable of playing the right-hand side of a 3 man attack.
But only a minute later George Purcell would stake his claim for goal of the season/evening! After running and beating a defender he unleashed a 30 yard thunderbolt which had the goalkeeper well-beaten. Cue absolute pandemonium behind the goal as we raced into the top of the table. And thats the way it would finish, another lovely 4-0 win to ensure a great start to the season. We would have to endure various Thurrock attacks but managed to obtain another clean sheet through comfortable defending.
So, overall a very enjoyable first away day of the season. It was dissapointing to learn that Woking had scored a late penalty against Hampton to pick up a 2-1 win but it feels great to lead the table, even if the season is only 2 games old! We are actually one of 6 teams to pick up maximum points so far which indicates that it could be very competitive at the top, as I had predicted. I think Thurrock should make a decent account of themselves this season, contary to my season preview. They have enough quality to be safe in my opinion.
Our support was excellent too. Out of the 443 announced crowd it looked like around 300 of those had come from Kent. Vocally we were brilliant and our second-half atmosphere in particular was top notched. It helps that Thurrock have a decent ground and we were winning but credit is due to our supporters who proved that on our day we are the loudest in the league.
The journey back consisted of those of us overly excited Dover fans singing a few songs and discussing how brilliant we are. I don't know about you, but the feel-good factor seems to be back. When I got back me and Russell bought a pizza each, mine being a large hot and spicy pizza that lived up to its name. How much fucking chilli powder? Yummy though. The only negative was that I paid for it with the £10 that my Dad had left me for the admission fee at Truro. Sorry Father, but I hadn't factored in that I would be paying £12 admission fee! I hadn't eaten since Breakfast and the plan was always to get one but I need to learn how to control my finances efficiently.
And finances is my big worry going into this weekend at Newquay/Truro. Once I've paid £44 for the hotel rooms and spent over the £100 over both days of the weekend, I am going to be absolutely brassic for the final four games before I get paid (which include 2 kent derbies and 2 decent away days!). :-( Breathing is another concern I have for this weekend, with very little of asthma pump remaining. I never put in my repeat suscription early enough and always suffer for it. So its a shame I'm not going into Newquay in the best emotionial/healthy/financial state.
But that said, it should be a fucking blast. This away day has so much potential; you could not ask for a better away game at a better time. Cornwall in the middle of summer = Result! So a lot of potential carnage awaits us, as well as a horrendous amount of travelling on a coach. Our 8PM departure tonight will see us arrive in Newquay over 11 hours later! I just hope I get some good sleep overnight so I am fully prepared. But sleeping on a coach is never fun nor easy to obtain.
I haven't actually given the football itself too much thought, which is a bit silly for a 660+ round mile trip. They should provide us our first proper stern test, having won their opening two games, along with benefitting from their momentum. It is also a new ground for me, a milestone 70th non-league one for me. So a lot of excitement is to come ahead and I cannot wait to step foot on the national express coach tonight. Hopefully there be a quite a few tales when I return home, preferably with 3 points in my back pocket!
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| Wednesday 17 Aug 2011 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farnborough | 1 | - | 0 | Salisbury | |
 Connolly (37) |  788 | ||||
| Havant and W | 1 | - | 2 | Welling | |
| Braham-Barrett (45) | Clarke (44) Pugh (83) | 599 | |||
| Tuesday 16 Aug 2011 | |||||
| Basingstoke | 4 | - | 1 | Weston-S-Mare | |
| Pratt (30) Lake (05) Pratt (07) Warner (91) | Huxley (68) | 370 | |||
| Bromley | 4 | - | 0 | Boreham Wood | |
| Arava (23) Hopton (54) Smith (67) Williams (79) | 337 | ||||
| Dartford | 2 | - | 1 | Eastbourne Borough | |
| Sheringham (20) Green (61) | Strevett (91) | 1,140 | |||
| Dorchester | 4 | - | 0 | Maidenhead Utd | |
Critchell (62) Flood (06) Walker (77) Moss (91) | 410 | ||||
| Thurrock | 0 | - | 4 | Dover | |
| Baker (45) Bricknell (48) Baker (57) Purcell (58) | 443 | ||||
| Tonbridge Angels | 1 | - | 4 | Sutton Utd | |
| Collin (85) | Orilonishe (14) Orilonishe (77) Orilonishe (87) Beautyman (08) | 683 | |||
| Truro City | 2 | - | 1 | Eastleigh | |
| Watkins (11) Walker (59) | White (46) | 713 | |||
| Woking | 2 | - | 1 | Hampton & Richmond | |
| Ademoia (64) King (85) | Erskine (73) | 1,467 | |||
Blue Sq South Table - August 17 2011
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Dover | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 6 |
| 2 | | Woking | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 6 |
| 3 | | Basingstoke Town | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| 4 | | Bromley | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| 5 |  | Dartford | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| 6 | | Truro City | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| 7 | | Welling United | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 8 | | Farnborough | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 9 | | Tonbridge Angels | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 10 | | Dorchester | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| 11 | | Havant and Waterlooville | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 12 | | Sutton United | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 3 |
| 13 | | Staines Town | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | | Eastbourne Borough | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 1 |
| 15 | | Salisbury City | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 1 |
| 16 | | Thurrock | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 1 |
| 17 | | Chelmsford | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| 18 | | Hampton & Richmond | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 0 |
| 19 | | Eastleigh | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 0 |
| 20 | | Boreham Wood | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 0 |
| 21 |  | Weston-S-Mare | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 8 | -7 | 0 |
| 22 | | Maidenhead United | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | -8 | 0 |
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