The excitement had been building all week; with back-to-back wins, six points in the bag and in contrast to the previous week, the usual suspects were well up for the 264-mile journey south, regardless of the 7:30am start time. Even the cardboard cut outs were joining us, and this time there was a proper car full and some decent conversation too. Those cut outs couldn’t wait to tell us all about last season at the Shay…
Breakfast was the usual healthy menu, topped up with a few chips, sausages, eggs, beans, hash browns and avocado. Traffic was building so we didn’t leave it long before we re-joined the M5 to weave in and out of a cavalcade of white caravans destined for a bigger traffic jam somewhere in Cornwall.
With kick off delayed until 5:15pm for TV coverage, we took the opportunity for a detour though the busy city of Bristol, then out along a string of winding country roads. The sun came out, the trees provided a canopy of green shade as the busting civilisation disappeared, to be replaced with cattle, farms and sudden bends in the road. The place names seemed more expensive the further south we travelled, Pensford, Bishop Sutton, Clutton and Midsomer Norton, and eventually we rolled up to our interim destination. The quiet market village of Shepton Mallet had a 3:00pm kick off for an FA Cup game against their illustrious neighbours Taunton Town. You can only imagine how pleased they were to see us Northerners pull up with Trainspotter John hanging out of the rear window!
At half time we were on our way again, Trainspotter had found the local bars and cider, and we had enjoyed great value food and drink from the tea bar. Taunton were 3-0 up on their way to final score of 8-1. The setting was idyllic, but we had business 20 odd miles away in Yeovil. Back on the country lanes, we reached our destination with only a minor wrong turn or two.
Yeovil’s Huish Park was opened over 30 years ago, having a capacity of 9500 and sitting outside the town centre, it is replacing their original ground which now hosts a supermarket on its location. The travelling 54 Shaymen we given seating alongside the penalty area and facing the warm evening sunshine. The tall floodlights were on, but only to assist the television audience with their viewing.
At half time, the Shaymen were a goal behind. A penalty awarded for a challenge in the box. It may have looked different on television, but the travelling Shaymen weren’t happy with the decision, it looked soft but was scored with ease and the home fans celebrated.
The second half was better, perhaps helped by the Shaymen attacking the goal at our end. A post was rattled, a shout of a penalty of our own but, in truth Yeovil looked strong and never really under too much pressure. There was good vocal support from the away end but much of the noise came from a boisterous home terrace behind the far goal. They were comfortable and they knew it.
Driving back, it was soon dark and getting late, very late. Trainspotter John was sleeping off his cider exploits, the motorways were busy but moving. The biggest risk was overnight roadworks. All seemed well until we headed up Windy Hill towards Ripponden; 11:45pm soon become 12:30am as four lanes were filtered into just one. Where had all that traffic come from? It even woke up the slumbering Trainspotter, his plans for last orders were gone for another day.
Next up and we’re off for a tricky evening kick off at one of our favourite locations, Boreham Wood. We’ll be sure to stock up on refreshments along the way.
Goals on the road 3, Miles 988, C’mon Shaymen!
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