AWAY DAYS-STALYBRIDGE

Can’t football be a funny game. Four straight wins, confidence at a high, everyone positive, the managers great, the players are world beaters then it’s down to earth with a major bump!

I actually managed to make the Stalybridge game having told a few half truths about having to get home early and reorganising meetings I was due to be in. I left work early and made the kick off with minutes to spare. I must admit the directions that I did in the programme whilst being very helpful did seem to send you a long way round (Blame the Stalybridge website).

Imagine my horror when changing ends at half time I saw one of my former bosses, and quite a high up one at that,  who had recently moved to Ashton. I had to come clean. I had not been honest with why I couldn’t attend a meeting that afternoon! As someone remarked to me “Be sure your sins will find you out”

The game was I thought the best we had watched all season and in the end a draw would have been a fair result. Stalybridge were easily the best team we had faced and certainly seemed up for the battle. The fact that in most of our eyes the keeper, an ex Southport reserve, was the man of the match shows we had chances but our luck was out and Syds early contender for miss of the season seemed to sum up the night. It just wasn’t going to be. Barry Jones needless sending off just put the icing on the cake.

It was then on to Hucknall Town for the leagues match of the day second against third and a real humdinger in prospect? Oh dear how wrong I was going to be.

We set off early for this one travelling in a more conventional manner (car) than my epic train journey from hell to Wakefield. We managed to get a photo of Knutsford Town’s ground on the way and went the scenic route through the Peak District. Stopping in Matlock for lunch I managed to get a photo of their ground to add to my collection. You wouldn’t think that I actually laugh at train spotters!

Arriving in Hucknall early we found the nearest bookies and I picked out Somness for the big race at Haydock. Unfortunately as I have given up betting (University fees are going to be very expensive) I didn’t have a penny on and it duly obliged at 10/1. I should have known it wasn’t going to be my day.

On to the ground and as this was both the team’s and my first visit to Watnall Road you guessed it, it was photos time again. Ground number 119 for me, Watnall Road was small but neat and the most noticeable feature was the very undulating pitch.

Another good away following (has anybody else noticed that in each of our four away games the attendance has been that clubs highest of the season) saw Ashy hitting the bar in the second minute and gave us all a lift. We actually played quite well in the first 15 minutes but another needless penalty and a lovely goal by man of the match Ricketts saw us 2 down. We spurned a number of very good chances but after going 2 down it all seemed to fall away. We seemed all at sea against an aerial bombardment that saw the extremely impressive Ricketts winning everything at will.

It was a poor performance no one can deny that and we were all very disappointed but we have to bounce back from it and get back on track and I am sure we will

Two away defeats on the trot and spirits among the fans after the game were low but there is a long way to go and let’s hope that if nothing else the defeats have served as a wake up call to all of us and remind us that it isn’t going to be as easy as some people felt after the first four games. If you look at the positions of those four teams (19^th, 20^th, 22^nd, and 23^rd) you will realise that it’s going to be very very tough.

The next Away Days will feature the trips to Worksop (an all day excursion planned for this one) and Ashton United.

Rob Urwin