I've been putting this off for a while. I was writing this in my head as I strolled away from Underhill on Saturday in something of a foul mood having suffered a superb, cliched kick in the teeth at the very death of a massive game against Lincoln City. I wasn't sure what to think, they always seem to beat us, don't they?
No sooner had a fine header been planted in the back of the net, I was off out of my seat and walking to the exit. I glanced over toward the Lincoln fans going spare in the East Terrace, then put my head down and took the gloomy walk away from the lowly lit car park behind the South Stand. I guess it was just a split second reaction, my way of coiling away from a horrendous moment.
Isn't that just what football does though? Just when things don't appear to be able to get more worrying, that goes and happens. As I had predicted, the large part of the game was met with a shuddering indifference on my part. I wanted to find an excuse to leave, but just couldn't. Oh make no mistake, it was better than our last few efforts, I mean we had a few chances and everything. But then as soon as this poor Lincoln team go up the other end and take their only chance to lead 1-0 at the break, enthusiasm did appear to waver across the Underhill crowd, and myself.
The second half showed we just lacked a spark. Albert Adomah played well, like we know he can, but he couldn't get enough of a foothold in the game to make that extra difference. But then, as if by magic, Albert Jarrett produced a beauty to be headed in by the ever dependable Ismail Yakubu. What is this? Excitement?! A will to stay and watch this newfound drama unfold? This was an odd feeling, especially from my seat in Block C. Hello excitement my old friend, where have you been?
More pressure was sustained on the frail looking Lincoln team, who appeared to have one player of note. If he had stayed on his feet for more than three minutes of the game, he could have run the show if he'd wanted. Their number 34, Herd, I believe. I digress, I'm supposed to be talking about the great hope that this goal has provided. We might actually win a game again! Or am I asking too much?
We knocked on the door, but the game appeared to be petering out into a well earned draw which could well have been a win under different circumstances.
But what's this? Their left winger in acres of space? Where's Albert covering for our right back? Actually, where's our right back?! He delivers a peach of a cross which is met by the head of Lenell John-Lewis and it flies in via the post. It's a brilliant header. An exemplary header. The world's finest centre forwards would have been proud of that one. Jake Cole had no chance.
Refer back to the beginning for my actions and reactions to this cruel cruel moment of footballing injustice. This season is becoming like a boxing match, when you've floored your opponent and then you just keep kicking him in the face for no apparent reason as he writhes around on the floor just pleading for it to stop. Another one of those moments that lingers on and binds a football supporters' emotions like iron chains. Thankfully, for every one of these moments there is a willing public house able to soothe this heartache.
If I'd written this article sooner I would have been far more downbeat, but I'm going to try and put this into perspective. We're 17th and we can't buy a win, and we've got many tough games on the road. Maybe this could be a turning point, a bit of light at the end of this long old tunnel. A couple of wins would ease away the nervous tension as we begin to seriously look over our shoulders. Easier said than done yes, and we can rely on Grimsby and Darlington to be continually awful, but an upturn in results will drag us comfortably away from the perils below.
Yes it's fair to say our start to the season got everyone's hopes up and this makes it all the more disappointing. No-one's going to go to Morecambe, Accrington, Shrewsbury and so on, but maybe the few of us that do might finally get a bit more reward for our efforts. I've looked at the league table quite a bit, personally I'd be far more frustrated if I was a Bradford fan. Just look at them. Imagine having the backing, the resource that they have, and sitting in 15th, facing a fourth year in League Two. I'd be going loopy if I was one of them.
Talking of perspective, old adversaries Chester City lost 1-0 at home to Salisbury City tonight in the Blue Square Premier in front of 425 people. They still have a points tally of -3. On this day eight years ago they beat us 1-0 there. I remember that, it was awful! Sometimes it makes you think we are pretty lucky to be run so shrewdly, instead of what has occurred there, and at many other clubs. Living beyond our means will get us nowhere fast, so we have to stick with what we've got.
The impressive new training ground could well be the start of something, establishing this club as a solid League Two outfit and perhaps beyond. Once that starts reaping benefits, which it surely will, who knows what this club will go on to achieve. Hard to remember things like this when Lincoln nick a winner in the 94th minute, to stretch a winless run to ten league games, but always something to bear in mind.
|