Oh, the delights of modern day tv scheduling. Last season we had a lunchtime kick-off, this time we’ve been selected for the late afternoon 5:30pm start. With 261 miles ahead of us, numerous opportunities for traffic issues, and lunchtime to plan, it’s a delicate balance of making sure we get to the game on time, whilst also ensuring Tesco Pete has had enough sleep. He’s not at his best if he’s not had his beauty sleep. So shortly after 10:00am we were off, bright eyed and bushy tailed, with only one complaint about setting off too early.
It’s that time of the year when it’s freezing at night, but warm in the day. The Greetland Shayman looked like he was about to take on the Arctic as he sat on the back seat with his woollen hat and big coat. As we ventured further south, it was apparent that Spring had progressed much faster than up north. The leaves of the trees were in full flight, the blossom was blooming, and the early morning cool temperature was on the rise with the sun blazing down. It was a perfect day to watch football.
We stopped for lunch in Brackley, scene of one of our famous victories and where the Notorious Shayman, Graham Hadden once sneaked in for free. The town has developed significantly since our invasion in 2013. The once green fields are now homes to thousands. We located a good value chippy there too; a large portion was a polystyrene tray served open with both base and lid stacked with chips. If you were brave, you could also have a fish on top, most of us declined that tempting offer, but there’s always one…
The gates were open as we parked up a couple of hours before kick-off outside the away end. We took the opportunity to wander in and look around, the pitch was perfect, like a billiard table. The stand behind the goal which would house the travelling Shaymen at one end and the home fans at the other has been fully renovated with everything, but the roof replaced during the last 12 months. It wasn’t long before we were politely thrown out, but it killed some time before the turnstiles opened for real.
The Shaymen attacked the far end in the first half, but all the action was at our end. Eastleigh looked bright and ambitious and created several chances early on. The referee awarded a penalty to the home side on the half hour, it wasn’t as clear cut as some of those calls we had turned down last week, but to be fair to the ref, you could see why he gave it. Savin’s save and the follow up that was put wide gave us a moment of excitement in an otherwise quiet first half.
The second half was similar with Eastleigh again looking the better side. They were awarded another penalty, this time at the far end, it looked reasonable from our viewpoint but others watching on television were texting to say it wasn’t a penalty. This time the home side scored and deserved their lead. With time running out, it looked very much like a tame defeat was on the cards. We won a corner late on, Galvin met it unmarked in the box, an equaliser from nowhere. The 144 travelling Shaymen were in raptures. Moments later, we had an opportunity to steal all three points, but the ball was blasted inches wide.
The applause at the end was perhaps more of a relief than anything else. We were moments away from travelling back feeling grumpy, but in an instant, everything changed. We didn’t deserve the point, but we certainly deserved a penalty or two last week, and that’s football.
Next up and we’re off to Fylde, it’s often tricky there but we’ll travel in numbers.
Miles on the road: 7052. Goals on the road: 30. Points on the road: 35.
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