AWAY DAYS REPORT FROM STEVENAGE BOROUGH

I'll confess now. I had given up hope after the Scarborough game and accepted that we were going to be relegated. At the end of this 95 minute epic there was a glimmer of chance that we could be saved.

A 9am start from Haig Ave saw us arrive at the ground for 1.15. We were making such good time on the way down we had to stop at Watford Gap, which was full of Huddersfield fans en route to Brentford, to kill some time.

The painful memories of our last visit were fresh in my mind as we walked across from the car park to the away supporters entrance.

The first thing that struck me was the friendliness of everyone involved with the Club, from the girls in the club shop to the car park steward to the girl on gate to the stewards inside the ground they were an absolute credit to their club. I even asked one steward if he would mind getting some chips for me as the home catering van didn't do chips, he willingly obliged, thank you!

We were in the ground for 2pm, the first ones to enter, and I could see those goals going in in the match that relegated us and I just felt we would be in for a battering again and my 4-0 prediction could be about right.

We had advised all and sundry that we came expecting to be slaughtered and I think that attitude worked and got through to the Stevenage players.

It was £13 to enter and we had to sit down but no complaints it is an excellent view and a super stand. I do wonder though why that stand is given over to the away fans and they don't allocate the terracing at the other end to the away followings, allowing the away fans that want to sit to use the main stand? The programme was very good value at £2 with lots of reading material but it did feature the dreaded Dream Team again. I also bought the Fanzine "The Broadhall Way" which for £1 was an excellent read. I was laughing though that despite them starting the day in third place an element are still unhappy with the manager.

I started handing out some SISA forms to our healthy following of exiled fans and many thanks to everyone who completed one for the interest shown in the group.

So to the match. From the 1st minute to the 95th we were the better team. We were up for this one of that there is no doubt. Carl's missed penalty was a blow and you had a feeling our luck was out again.. The first half ended 0-0 but the lads were cheered off the pitch by the 67 travelling fans after a very impressive showing. We went on to hit the post, Earl forced the keeper into a stunning save before Robbo's persistence forced another penalty and the ref correctly handed out a red card. Robbo made no mistake this time. 1-0 up against 10 men and looking strong but this was rock bottom Southport against in form Stevenage, could we hang on?

We did until the 88th minute when Neil Fitzhenry gave away an unnecessary penalty through handball. Oh well a draw at Stevenage before a ball had been kicked would have been a brilliant result but to go down in the 88th would have been unjust but that's the way it goes. Hang on a minute, we have Dicko in goal. What a save that was, at least equalling his wonder save at Kidderminster earlier in the season.

The ref decided on 4 minutes of added time and my were they painful and long but we created a good couple of chances ourselves in the added period as Stevenage threw everybody forward. We hung on to end 1-0 winners. Now anybody who thinks the players don't care should have seen the reaction at the end. They care alright and they celebrated with the ecstatic fans, myself included. We were delirious and the celebrations were well deserved. I've said it before but the positive support that we get in away games must have an effect on the lads. The chanting of "There's only one Liam Watson" and "Liam Watson's Yellow army" throughout the game showed the depth of support Liam has amongst the fans. There is an excellent picture matt2995.fotopic.net/p25148581.html which sums up the feelings of us all!

A special word for Liam Blakeman who had a sensational debut, we could have a star in our midst if this showing is anything to go by. He deservedly gets my MOTM but as has been suggested on Port Chat perhaps the freedom of the town for Dicko. 265 games in, if ever any player deserved a testimonial match he does.

What a game, we had 5 booked, not 3 as reported we missed a pen we scored a pen they missed a pen and had a player sent off. We hit the post and spurned several good chances. The match had everything you could want and the journey home flew by as we reached Southport for 9.15 having stopped at Corley Services for a break.

The Stevenage fans seem less than happy with their manager which is amazing considering their position and reading the web forum they are very magnanimous in defeat and acknowledge the better team won on the day with some admitting it would have been harsh for us to have been denied a win if the pen had gone in. This summed up the whole place, a great club, friendly people and a credit to the Conference.