We’ve probably been fortunate with our mid-week away fixtures over recent seasons; it’s difficult to remember too many longer distance games that have been rescheduled from a weekend due to the weather or cup competitions. With freezing temperatures across the country in January, our well planned and relaxing Saturday visit to Southend was suddenly switched to a late-night expedition down the motorways and A roads of the UK. What time we’d get back would be anyone’s guess.
Shortly after lunchtime we were off on our 229-mile odyssey with everyone bar the Warley Shayman looking to witness first hand a Town victory at Roots Hall. We all know Southend has never been a particularly good hunting ground for the Shaymen over the years, but none of us wanted to be the ones sat at home watching Coronation Street if our great recent away form continued.
With traffic reasonable, we rolled into Southend just as dusk was falling; beyond the remnants of the longest pier in the world, you could still just make out the helter-skelters and amusement parks of the Isle of Sheppey across the Thames estuary in the gathering gloom. With a two-for-one offer available, we were unsurprisingly tempted into one of our favourite restaurant chains. All was going well until the bill arrived at double the asking price. Luckily, we had the charismatic Denzil to renegotiate the price for us. It’s unclear what he said to the staff, but he did seem to suggest that he may have used his wallet full of Town stickers, if the price wasn’t right.
With an advance admission price of £22 the 42 travelling Shaymen were given the first block of seating in an otherwise empty stand behind the goal. The weather was calm, a slight haze from the floodlights filled the air. The old wooden main stand was reasonably populated with most of the home support gathered down the other side of the pitch in the seats. The double-decker stand and the far end also had home fans but was far from capacity.
Town started the game well attacking the far end and they forced some early corners but didn’t create too much trouble for the keeper. The home side then grew into the half, holding much of the possession and threatened more as half time approached.
Two quick fire goals, both from corners gave the Shaymen an uphill struggle soon after the restart. It wasn’t unexpected given our record down there. We pulled one back with not long remaining and it gave us something to cheer about. Then, for a moment, we almost forced an equaliser as a shot fizzed wide. Southend made it three before somehow stopping us scoring again in injury time. We hit the post, the keeper made a couple of blocks, it would have been too late, but we would have taken it all the same.
After the final whistle blew, the players and staff thanked the fans for travelling and we slipped away into the night. With diversions though some overnight closures and roadworks we arrived back shortly before 3.00am. It wasn’t the result we had hoped for but we’re still in the top six with a tremendous away record. It doesn’t matter how many points you gather on the road, the latest result always seems to be the most important.
Next up and it’s a local derby with a visit to York City. No doubt we’ll travel there with a big away following making lots of noise. C’mon Shaymen
Miles on the road: 5448. Goals on the road: 24. Points on the road: 29.
Read more posts by Rob Brown
;
