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THE TRIP:
The TLG duo, as is the normal these days, were booked on the Shrimpers Trust coach from the Odeon. Just the one vehicle tonight of course - but there's already seven booked up for Wednesday's replay at a five-a-go - and our leader Chris Berry lived up to his reputation and was duly 20 minutes late for the 2:20pm pick-up. Naturally it wasn't Chris' fault - it never is - as the Coach seemed to brake down before it got to Shoebury! However the 49-seater was full for this trip so the £1 'full coach' discount duly followed, but I'm sure that was just because £15 was easier for Chris than £16!
At last our resident drummer Matt Overall had come up trrumps with some video's that were football related, but at time's we did find 'Seaman's Snippet's' a bit dull!
Jamie Forsyth, editor of the Shrimpers.net Rivals site convincingly won the Trust Quiz, with Rob and myself the quiz masters this time. It's terrible how little some of our trusted supporters know about Blues history!
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PRE-MATCH:
We arrived in Cheltenham exactly an hour before kick-off, and whilst the majority of the coach headed down the road towards the Cat & Fiddle, Rob and I strolled behind the Main Stand and took in a pint in the impressive Social Bar underneath the Stand. It's a great little bar with, unusually a full view of the pitch. The curtains are drawn during the match of course but it adds a nice touch to the room which is lined with framed shirts, including the 1998-99 Shrimpers home top, and a fine array of pennants. Hot food and drinks are also served at a reasonable price as well as two lagers and two bitters on tap.
We made our way into the ground with about twenty minutes to spare where upon entry a steward asked if I "wanted to be searched". What a daft question! Still I'm sure if I'd have declined I would have been denied entry, I'm sure that's illegal but at football grounds the law often doesn't seem to matter. Anyhow after my search I paid the student price of £9. I left University in the summer but thankfully my student card doesn't expire for another year and a half!
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WHADDON ROAD:
Cheltenham have been in the League for over four years now and their home ground has improved in that time. The new In2Print Stand opened two years ago and strangely slopes from one end to the other despite the pitch actually being level. This means a slope up to the stand at one end and a dangerous looking drop from the pitch to the stand at the end nearest the away terrace. The away end itself is rather odd, there is a large gap directly behind the goal where the turnstiles and impressive new toilet block are located and there are two small banks of terracing to either side, one of which is uncovered and backs onto gardens and the other covered by a small corregated steel structure which backs onto a bowling green. Myself and a few of the more vocal group of Blues fans stood under the cover for more effect.
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THE MATCH:
United dominated much of this match and in truth were very unfortunate not to come away with all three points. The Robins hit the workwork through Damian Spencer in the first half but other than that th home side rarely threatened and once Leon Constantine had also hit a post for United shortly after half time it signalled the start of a Shrimpers bombardment which eventually saw Drewe Broughton open his League account with a shot which squirmed through the hands of Shane Higgs to give United the lead with twenty minutes left.
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Although not particulay huge in number, the United fans tried to make as much nice as possible and sung for the majority of the game. One interesting chant went something like 'Jamie Stuart is a blue, is a blue, is a blue; Jamie Stuart is a blue, he hates Col U!' I'm not quite sure what Jamie thought but he gave it a little clap anyhow!
Another little bonus was the matchball we managed to 'keep' after it was lofted into the away end during the first half. As a new ball was thrown on straight away no-one seemed to try and retieve it so it was added to our collection along with balls from Swansea and Macclesfield and will, needless to say, be used at a service station soon!
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THE VERDICT:
Trevor Bashford: "We played well tonight, it was a great all round tram performance. I was pleased that Drewe [Broughton] broke his league duck, but it's just a shame that having finally scored he's suspended for the game on Wednesday!"
"Unfortunately it once again seemed that we had a very 'homey' referee, but even though I don't think Jay [Smith] was offside in the last minute I think a couple of other players were."
David Dawson: "It was nice to see that Drewe's workrate was phoenomenal. However, it does seem that Jenks [Neil Jenkins] looks a bit jaded, but then again he's having a run in the side and that's what he needs."
"I don't think the last minute goal was offside and appareantly BBC Essex said the same on the radio."
Phil Lamb, Joe Elliott & Lewis Crowe: "The workrate was outstanding tonight and we definatly dominated the match. The fans and the players alike were quality - you can see how well the team played as the supporters stayed for so long to applaud the side off."
"It's a shame we hit the post because we might well have gone on to score more, but we probably need to take more of our chances."
"It was a commanding performance from Kevin Maher and Jay Smith in particular, but at half time we were wondering where a goal might come from."
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If you have a view on the game which you would like to see published here, or indeed in future 'Day Tripping' articles, just send me an e-mail at Zoffateer@aol.com and I'll add them!
Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com