AWAY DAYS

BRADFORD (PARK AVENUE) & WORKSOP

Doesn't football drive you daft. This was a banker away win, bottom with only one home win all season against a rampant Southport team. Odds of 8/13 on us winning against 6/1. The scoreline of 3-1 flattered us as Bradford could have had six. It was easily the worst performance of the season and we looked totally out of sorts. It was £9 to get in and the pitch  was poor. A good programme for £1.70. I am sure my missus thinks I am a liar now. I have been waxing lyrical about how good we are away from home so she gave it a go. She is now banned from away games, I can't stop her going to the home ones as she has a season ticket! Having said that she is driving me to Ashton and Redditch later in the season. There was an excellent turnout of Southport fans who were understandably disappointed but most of us shrugged it off as just one of those days. I was left wondering how Bradford were bottom mind you as they looked much better than a number of the top sides we have played. A real coupon buster this one.

The next away trip was Worksop and back to the normal routine. An early start to meet Martin at the Fleece meant us once again passing the team coach going into Southport to pick the players up. We were going via the scenic route over the Cat & Fiddle and what a lovely trip it was, the snow capped hills were quite spectacular. I think it was the first time I had seen snow this year as the oasis that is Southport never seems to get any. We called in at Matlock for lunch and parked right outside their ground which considering the weather in the week before saw a pitch in excellent condition for their match against Burscough. Martin's mission to try and make me interested in history saw us pop in to Bolsover to see the Castle. At £7.50 to get in I was spared a walk round it! We arrived at Worksop's ground at 2.45 and took the customary photo's. It was nice and bright on arrival, £8 to get in and the programme was average at £2. The pitch was soft but in good condition. The goal after 54 seconds got us off to a good start and Terry's second was a bit special and summed up the fine line that seperates hero from villain. After he had beaten half the team and then went on to beat them again and the ballboys and the cleaner he had Robbo satanding unmarked with the crowd baying him to pass. None of it, he had to do it himself. What a goal and this photo kindly supplied by Angie must be a contender for photo of the year. I wonder what Robbo is thinking!!!!!!

The second half was like the Alamo with Worksop throwing everything at us including an almighty hail storm which saw play halted for around 7 minutes. However the storm came at the right time as we were well under the cosh. We hung on, just, to record a very fortunate 3 points. It did make up for the robbery that The Tigers perpetrated at Haig Avenue earlier in the season however. We left soaked but happy and were home by 7pm.