I rather suprisingly turned up to Hayes Lane not even that drunk after spending several hours drinking cheap pints of Carlsberg in the Wetherspoons with Adrian. We arrived in the South London shithole before half 2 which left us with over 5 hours of pre-match drinking time. Yet by the time we prepared to depart home with 3 points in our back pocket we both came to the conclusion that we were relatively sober despite our best efforts.
Again, I don't think there is particularly anything noteworthy to discuss here. The conversation of course consisted of the usual stuff; life, sex, beer, football and of course Tsarevich rulers. As well as the usual 'loudly rating passing women out of 10 as they walk past'. Grassbank, Dirtford scummer of the conference south forum joined us for a couple of jars. I get a lot of piss-taking and criticism for socializing with some opposition fans but Grassbank is a top bloke, but the banter is still there with our mutual dis-liking of each others club. He told us some very interesting information regarding their current attempts to replace the recently departed Charlie Sheringham and also shed light on Welling's impending financial problems. I won't disclose any more information from there!
Next up to join us was Papa Snell, who made a decison to come to the game after work. Once he arrived we decided to get some grub. Dad chose the beef and ale pie, Adrian went for a tidy sirloin steak whereas I stuck to my guns and went for my favoured Chicken Gourmet burger. Unfortunately within minutes I had spilt mustard down my shirt and dropped an onion ring on the floor. Oh well, shit happens.
Ginger Johnathan Pring was the final person to join us in our quest to discover what love is. He arrived from his London home just after 6pm and fitted a quick pint in with us. After about 9 pints and a cheeky jaigerbomb we made the 15 minute trek to Hayes Lane where we were some of the earliest Dover fans to arrive. The coach had arrived half an hour late so we were short on company. We consumed another pint in their bar, a fosters in a crappy plastic cup for £3.20. Their bar is a bit bland and crappy, but the barmaid certainly rivalred Dorchester's in the "I wouldn't mind smashing her back doors in" stakes.
Me and Adrian decided to wander around to the goal we usually attack at first, the stand where the benches are behind the goal. So after lots of effort tying up our respective large flags we were horrified to discover that we were kicking off towards the other end. Cunts. Thats twice in both games now. I really do like my flags but they are such a burden and a pain in the arse to set up. The only time they are not is whenever we are segregated somewhere but other than that it is a massive hassle, particularly when quite a lot of grounds are too inadaquate to have space to put them up.
And because of all that effort with untying the flag again and walking round to the other side, I would miss the only goal of the game courtesy of the talismanic Donovan Simmonds which occured within the opening few minutes. It appears that he controlled it with his knee, turned and then put the ball in the bottom corner to continue his impressive goalscoring streak. I only saw the ball just go over the line and whilst delighted, was very pissed off that I had missed the goal land booted my heavy flag in the air out of frustration.
 |
| Becoming an all too familar sight now. Long may it continue! |
The next twenty minutes or so would be a complete joy to watch. We moved the ball so smoothly around the deck and each pass would find another player, at a very high tempo too. They just could not keep up with us, we were that superb.
Unfortunately our rhythm was hindered when Simmonds went off injured aft around 20 minutes. He picked up a slight knock and unfortunately had to be replaced which left Purcell with a chance to shine again.
Then it began pissing it down not long after and from then on we had to absorb a lot of presure and survive a few scares. Firstly, Ruiz performed a rather outstanding double save after a corner had been failed to clear and then soon after desperate defending saw us block a shot off of the line.
But we had the final say in the first half. Purcell went through and put the ball into the back of the net only to see the flag raised, then their goalkeeper saved well from a Schulz header to ensure we only went into the break only a goal to the good. So after a entertaining first half I made the short walk to the bar for another beer with my flag in tow that was now about twice its weight before the game as it had become absolutely drenched in the pissing rain. Due to some sort of failure behind the bar we had only got served just prior to the second half which meant I spent the first 5 minutes of the half watching the game outside the bar with the egotistical but wonderful Alex Wilshaw and the charasmatic Christopher Collings.
After that quick refreshment I made my fat arse around to behind the goal we should have been attacking in the first half. Everyone was all huddled cosily at the back of the stand due to the shitty weather conditions and it made for a really good atmosphere which was suprisingly achieved without any drums. And this is definetly true because we received praise from the Bromley fans on their forum after the game who in turn were very quiet and we didn't hear a peep out of them all game. For some reason we are having no problem creating an atmosphere at away games whereas Crabble doesn't have the 'it' factor at the moment. We cannot put this down to people being more boozed up at away games either because the vast majority of our fans do not drink during the week. Anyway, hopefully we can get the atmosphere rocking for our big FA Cup game against Bath on Saturday and I know Champ will be doing his best to ensure this happens. SING YOUR HEARTS OUT FOR THE LADZZ.
Anyway, back to the game of soccerball. Soon after we were left very puzzled when Shane Huke got dismissed for an apparent elbow. I didn't see the incident very clearly but there were no signs of deliberate intent, nor were there appeals from any Bromley players. Our fans who were still by the bar seemed totally nonplussed at the decision too so it appears we were victims of a referee who wanted to spoil a game once again.
But our players reaction to the dismissal was top class. Redwood had to be hauled off for Starkey to bring us more defensive stability and each and every player run their socks into the ground to ensure we would be returning to White Cliffs country with the 3 points firmly in our back pockets.
Schulz and Harris were absolutely immence, winning everything in the air as Bromley pretty much reverted to hopeful long balls. We made some superb blocks and clearances as we managed to valiantly hold on for the 3 points. In fact we were unforunate not to extend our lead late on despite our disadvantage. A teasing cross from the excellent James Walker was that was crying out to be met wasn't, while Purcell was unlucky to see his shot narrowly go wide. While Bromley were unable to create anything clear cut the remaining 10 minutes were very nervey, so when the final whistle went we were very jubiliant and I was extremely proud of our performance. We battled until the end and showed a real desire to win, which indicates that Forster has installed a winning mentality into this club.
So the four of us wandered back to the station in a very bouyant mood but decided against going for another drink despite having a lot of time on our side. Instead, a portion of chips was suffice with a few cans of carlsberg to reflect on a very pleasing whites victory. Dad and Pringy made their seperate ways home while me and Adrian spent our train journey back rather tired, but in a much more respectable state that we should have been. GO US!
Right a quick final note to my dad who is always bitching about my terrible spelling and general awful ramblings in this blog. LEAVE ME ALONE, I DON'T CARE.
So a big FA Cup tie coming up on Saturday against the West Country Bumpkins, Bath City. I am desperate for us to win this now with automatic promotion now out of our reach IN MY OPINION, with Woking taking that mantle. Its going to be a very a tough game for us, even with them struggling at the foot of the Connie Prem. But its achievable, we just need to put this so called FA cup voodoo to bed for good, and get a big, loud crowd up at Crabble to cheer us onto victory (I know that sounds cheesy but I've got PASHUN, I want this club to succeed on and off the pitch as much as possible).
Who does everybody want IF we are still in the hat for Sunday's draw? IF we do then my preference would be a proper league side. Being at home would give us a bigger possibility of being on live television but being away would give us a new ground and more likely a bigger attendances. Its tough, but playing a struggling league side like Plymouth or Bradford would be most ideal for me.
But overall I'd just like to avoid any other small shitty non-league or any small shitty football league team like Spaccrington, Barnet or Macclesfield. Fuck it, I'm getting too ahead of myself here, aren't I? At least we know who to blame now if we go crashing out of the cup come 5PM Saturday!
| Tuesday 25 Oct 2011 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basingstoke | 1 | - | 1 | Staines Town | |
 McAuley (56) |
Charles-Smith (89) |
 341 |
|||
| Bromley | 0 | - | 1 | Dover | |
| Simmonds (04) |
554 |
||||
| Eastbourne Borough | 1 | - | 2 | Tonbridge Angels | |
| Watson (22) |
McLaggon (45) Browning (76) |
924 |
|||
| Havant and W | 4 | - | 2 | Dorchester | |
| Palmer (50) Palmer (60) Igoe (66) Woodford (83) |
Dickenson (16) Bowles (08) |
539 |
|||
| Sutton Utd | 5 | - | 0 | Salisbury | |
| Watkins (22) Watkins (33) Dundas (50) Beautyman (59) Kavanagh (80) |
718 |
||||
| Thurrock | 0 | - | 3 | Dartford | |
| Erskine (52) Rogers (57) Pallen (87) |
642 |
||||
| Truro City | 8 | - | 2 | Farnborough | |
| Walker (15) Yetton (16) Afful (23) Afful (29) Watkins (34) Yetton (38) Hayles (46) Watkins (55) |
Holland (05) Bygrave (73) |
434 |
|||
| Monday 24 Oct 2011 | |||||
| Boreham Wood | 1 | - | 0 | Maidenhead Utd | |
 Hutton (43) |
210 |
||||
| Chelmsford | 3 | - | 0 | Eastleigh | |
| (13) Palmer (21) Morgan (08) |
937 |
||||
| Woking | 4 | - | 1 | Weston-S-Mare | |
| King (46) Hammond (74) Ademoia (76) Sole (81) |
Pepperell (91) |
1,462 | |||
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Woking | 14 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 32 | 12 | 20 | 33 |
| 2 |  |
Sutton United | 14 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 29 | 14 | 15 | 30 |
| 3 | |
Dartford | 14 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 30 | 16 | 14 | 29 |
| 4 | |
Welling United | 14 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 31 | 19 | 12 | 27 |
| 5 | |
Basingstoke Town | 14 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 28 | 18 | 10 | 26 |
| 6 | |
Chelmsford | 14 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 24 | 14 | 10 | 24 |
| 7 | |
Dover | 14 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 19 | 10 | 9 | 22 |
| 8 | |
Truro City | 14 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 25 | 24 | 1 | 22 |
| 9 | |
Boreham Wood | 15 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 16 | 20 | -4 | 21 |
| 10 | |
Eastbourne Borough | 14 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 28 | 24 | 4 | 20 |
| 11 | |
Weston-S-Mare | 14 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 26 | 26 | 0 | 20 |
| 12 | |
Salisbury City | 14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 19 | 20 | -1 | 19 |
| 13 | |
Tonbridge Angels | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 26 | 28 | -2 | 18 |
| 14 | |
Bromley | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 23 | 26 | -3 | 18 |
| 15 | |
Maidenhead United | 15 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 20 | 29 | -9 | 18 |
| 16 | |
Havant and Waterlooville | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 25 | 27 | -2 | 15 |
| 17 |  |
Dorchester | 15 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 19 | 28 | -9 | 15 |
| 18 | |
Eastleigh | 14 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 12 | 25 | -13 | 14 |
| 19 | |
Farnborough | 14 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 18 | 31 | -13 | 13 |
| 20 | |
Staines Town | 14 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 14 | 19 | -5 | 10 |
| 21 | |
Thurrock | 14 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 34 | -23 | 9 |
| 22 | |
Hampton & Richmond | 13 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 15 | 26 | -11 | 7 |
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