Bang! It was just like the opening credits to Starsky & Hutch, the car came round the corner in slow motion then, suddenly accelerated connecting perfectly with the wheelie bin. The contents were ejected high into the air, ready for Storm Darragh to scatter everything into the neighbour’s gardens. I don’t know who looked more shocked as the Greetland Shayman emerged from the driver’s seat to inspect the damage to the front of his car.
It was a parking masterclass, Tesco Pete, a front seat passenger was unsurprising too busy on his mobile phone to warn the driver of impending chaos. Luckily Mrs B wasn’t at home, or we may have had some explaining to do. ‘Let’s blame it on the storm,’ said the Greetland Shaymen as we departed…
We were a good hour into our 80-mile journey south before anyone dare bring up the subject. Tesco Pete had spent the time wisely and quietly reviewing whiplash injury claims on the interweb, when the Positive Shayman asked the killer question ‘I guess you didn’t see it then?’ The tension was broken, perspectives explained, and we were soon back talking about the prospects of a tricky afternoon in Nottingham and the road to Wembley.
With advanced parking booked for £6 we rolled up to the ground with a serious gale blowing and the rain horizontal. Admission to the ground was a reasonable £13 for adults with the opportunity to upgrade to seating in the main stand for a few quid more. Basford have had a meteoric rise through the football pyramid over the last 15 years with five promotions and significant ground improvements. Their once sloped grass pitch has been upgraded to a perfect artificial surface, their first version was replaced over the summer and is also available for use by community groups. They have a decent club house, club shop and a tea hut selling chips for a bargain £3.50. Tesco Pete even bought an ice cream from a van parked inside the ground.
The Shaymen trailed by two goals to nil at half-time having had most of the possession and a good number of chances. Basford’s first goal was a cross into the box, it was met perfectly by Storm Darragh who ensured it bent into the top corner with everyone bemused. Their second looked equally interesting from our view sheltering from the elements in the shed at the other end of the ground. The weather, specifically the wild wind was running riot blowing across the pitch, any pass not perfect was more likely to end up in the car park than anywhere else.
With the Shaymen looking creative, we headed to the far end of the ground in the second half, there was no shelter, but we were confident of a comeback, and we felt it was worth getting wet to see the action up close. Town pulled one back soon after the restart and dominated possession. With the wind getting stronger, Cooke equalised with a shot from the edge of the box; the shot had plenty of power but was also moving all over the place in the wind; the keeper had no chance. Town pushed hard for a winner whilst Basford looked to attack on the break. In the end, we had to settle for penalties at full time.
With both teams scoring their first five kicks, something had to give. The wind was blowing the ball off the spot at every opportunity as Town looked to score their sixth. In the end, the ball sailed over the bar and into the carpark. Fair play to Basford, they stood up to continued pressure, had a bit of luck and are now into the 4th round for the first time in their history. Town can count themselves unlucky on the day, football is sometimes like that.
Driving back and we started planning our next adventure to Aldershot, we do well there around Christmas time. C’mon Shaymen!
Miles on the road: 3340. Goals on the road: 11. Points on the road: 15.
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