Travelling down to
The rain was steady but not the heavy stuff predicted so it looked as if the worse might have passed, and as long as it did stay away, along with an early pitch inspection being positive, it looked as if we would see some action.
This is going to be one of the quicker day trippers, as for the second season running I was having a beer break in Yeovil, and as the game is much better described here, www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=472661, there's not a lot to add.
EEB lines up the local produce for his next trip
It was still a miserable day, and to add insult to injury, this time we lost!
The train, 2 £10 singles being bought early, was on time only a couple of hours after leaving the capital, not bad for the distance.
Went straight to the ground trying to find the famous marquee, but it seemed closed, possibly rained out, yet it was near to kick off and as I was only going to have some horrible soft drink, got in the ground at an unheard of 2.35pm! So that's what the player do.
It was starting to get very cold and not much to warm us other than the good news the transfer embargo was lifted and Blues had signed a loanee, well for 30 minutes anyway as referee Phillips decided to send him off!
Looking at the highlights it's a 50-50 call, you can see Adam Barrett was running back and in line with the 'incident' and if the Yeovil strike John Obika had cut inside onto his right foot, the Blues skipper may have got a tackle in.
Then again, Obika had his head down, and the grab on the shoulder was pretty cynical by the
Also, the winning goal, there was no hand ball, not sure what the lads saw there.
However, I will bring up the linesman our left hand side, he was a joke, completely losing the plot in the second half, three terrible decisions in a ten minute spell, which eventually cost us the match.
It was obvious he had not seen the clash that led to the free-kick against Freedman that led to the goal, and unless the referee had already given it was a very poor decision.
I was worried that Granty was going to deck him until I saw a big smile after another cock up, I think the player accepted nothing was going to go for him.
Still, a fellow exile told us after the game the ex-Chelsea defender told him: "what was he on?", and most of the travelling faithful will be asking the same question!
A word also for Big Steve Mildenhall, who made 85 appearances for the home side over two seasons, a truly terrific performance, well worthy of his man-of-the-match nine, a big smile on his face at all times whatevers happening in front of him, or songs being sung behind him. I like the bloke, and the Glovers fans gave him a decent round of applause as well.
Once again visiting Yeovil had been a horrible experience, even when we win, as we've done on the last three occasions, we always get wet! The trip from the station takes for ever, and somehow I always take the wrong exit from the ground and end up walking miles in the dark before finding a bus to take me back for the train. Luckily, I had an 18.20 ticket!
If we play each other again next season I shall buy a seat in the stand, catch a taxi, and get very pissed indeed!
The journey went well, and back home before ten, not bad when you add up the miles, but looking forward to the