So it's time I started to write a blog. I was going to start after the woeful 3 nil away loss at Ebbsfleet United on Tuesday but I would have got tears on the keyboard and it would have broken the laptop, FACT. It was the hardest game I've ever watched in all my years watching the Romans. Anyway, next up in the fight for survival, Sincil Bank, Lincoln City.
For some reason this early morning was especially hard to get up to. Whether it was because of Tuesday night's fiasco I'm not sure, although it might have been because I'd run out of shredded wheat the previous morning. After crawling out of bed, showering, eating the crap bits of cereal that come at the bottom of the box and getting dressed, i was just about ready to travel to the get the supporters coach.
Arriving at the Odd down pick-up point at 7.35, it was clear that it wasn't just an early morning for me, but for most of the city fans getting on the coach. As the pick-up points came and went, gormless/tired faces trundled up the coach to try and get their favoured seat. The look on their faces was that a defeat was going to be served to us on a golden Lincolnshire plate today, and at the end of the day they were to be proved right! But at the time, some optimistic supporters had also realised Lincoln weren't blowing the league away like some of their naive fans had predicted pre-season, and were sitting in the relegation zone with us! Was there to be a hard fought win that the stripes badly needed?
The miles were slowly racking up but after buying 50/50 tickets to try and win some beer money, we arrived at Hopwood services and it was time to stretch some very weary legs. After buying the usual (a coffee nation latte and the sun), a group photo was taken for the supporters club and we were on our way again up the long and winding road north.
After appreciating the fine beauty of Holly Valance in The Sun, and reading about Norwich City's chances against Manchester United, it was time for the 50/50 draw. I'd previously won 2nd prize on the way to Ebbsfleet, but as they say lightening never strikes twice and swiftly chucked the tickets into the bin that moved it's way up the coach. Another stint of reading The Sun and listening to some Elbow on the ipod and we had soon arrived into an extremely sunny Lincoln for the match!
As we'd got off the coach we were summoned by the Lincoln City bar employees to take in the beverages of the clubhouse, we politely declined, which we later found to be the right decision! So in the shadow of the glorious Lincoln Cathedral, we walked to the nearest Wetherspoons for a cheap and cheerful, Thatchers Gold. A couple of pints were consumed until it was time for us to stroll back along the high street to Sincil Bank.
Luckily it was only a tenner to get in because of a promotion, due to it being 'Lincolnshire Day'. I wouldn't fancy paying the normal £18 that it costs for a normal matchday, because for non league football that's an absolute rip off! Before the rest of the city following arrived into the ground, a fellow city fan and myself set up all of the flags in the designated area above our away section, which took longer than it should due to inept stewards who spoke into their 'walkie talkies' like they were 10 years old. A programme was then bought from an over friendly club employee and along with the 58 loyal fans, i took my place in the away end.
The first half was almost a blur and was definitely what most of the city supporters expected. 2 sloppy goals went against us which both started from the same city player, who felt like he wanted to hold onto the ball like that greedy kid who never passed at school lunchtimes. The only chance we created was a deflected curling shot which clipped the outside of the Lincoln post, from then on the team just seem to go through the motions and playing for their paycheck and not for their fans or management. The half time whistle blew and half of the city fans scampered off to grab a (not kidding) £1.80 cup of tea!
The second half, as you can imagine was just as woeful as the first half. New loan striker from Hereford, Sean Canham was the only highlight as he showed glimpses of quality which may provide us with some much needed goals in the next few games. Both teams pretty much cancelled each other out as they both justified why they were vacating in the relegation zone. We made Lincoln look like a decent side, and if any player in the opposition has pace, then it seems we just crumble before him and he either has a shot or gets a cross in. As the game wore on, more and more city fans started to sit down in the bright red seats and probably wondered what they were going to have for supper when they got home.
The inept stewards before the game told me we had to take the flags down 10 minutes before the end of the game, so i asked what happened if we scored a last minute winner, he explained "you'll have to celebrate it up 'der won't ya!".....knob. Anyway taking down the flags went smoothly as we barely went past the halfway line.
The final whistle blew, and the gaffer pulled them all around to walk over to the loyal band of city fans, they then clapped for a good 30 seconds. Some players don't realise the time and money it takes to come and watch them play so to come and applaud us means a lot. Especially at the end the normally charismatic goalkeeper Glyn Garner waved his arms around like a nutter to explain to us to stay positive and keep the faith. When you haven't won a game in 13, it's ruddy hard to stay positive, that's for sure. It was almost a numb feeling after the game, tuesday's game was borderline upsetting, this one was just a regualtion loss. Last years 10th place triumph means it's hard to watch the team struggle against less than mediocre teams that we dispatched last season.
The walk back to the coach was one of reflection and where we go from here. It almost seems like we've hit a brick wall and we've run out of ideas, so i don't envy Adie Britton's job of trying to turn things around that's for sure. Although we did find out that going to Wetherspoons was the right decision as a pint in their bar was £3.50!? I'm counting that as the highlight of the day.
The trip back was as uneventful as the game proved to be, and we arrived home in decent time to watch MOTD. A cost of £48 for the whole days entertainment, now you don't get that in the Premier League! Terraces not Armchairs!
Next Game- 3/10/11 Taunton Town Away (Somerset Cup) First win of the season??
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