It had been a long time. Too long. But then life itself can seem too long on occasion. A mix of rain, snow, and frost ensured a virtual wipe-out of football through most of January. In the meantime, eviction date from the Bay had come and gone, and despite my efforts to get things moving as quickly as possible, the move remained unmoved. I get the unwelcome feeling in my guts that only litigation brings.
No matter. At long last, despite my predicament, despite living on pennies, it was match night tonight. And as it was Rovers, with season ticket in hand, it more importantly meant no money being spent. A few hours away from what life was throwing at me outside of the beautidul game. That'll do nicely.
Tonight, meanwhile, saw Rovers three points behind ESL leaders Burnham Ramblers. Takeley were lurking, with their games in hand. Bethnal Green, however, had to win tonight, otherwise their own faint title hopes were gone. I was far more interested, however, in Bri's miners headlamp, which he wore whilst reporting on the game. Bloody hell, mate, just do what I do, get the scores right and make the rest of it up. And sometimes I don't even get the scores correct either.
Anyway, I digress. As kick-off time approached, Bethnal Green hadn't. The old chestnut of traffic jams. Kick off delayed. Bastards. Far too cold for this. Can they not just start without them? Just like Scotland did in Estonia - and still only drew 0-0. Bit embarrassing, that scoreline, mind. For Estonia, of course.
No matter. At long last, despite my predicament, despite living on pennies, it was match night tonight. And as it was Rovers, with season ticket in hand, it more importantly meant no money being spent. A few hours away from what life was throwing at me outside of the beautidul game. That'll do nicely.
Bri and Ed were the companions in crime for the Mystery Machine tonight. We weren't hopeful of a decent game. It was far too cold, wet and windy for that. No, tonight was all about the points. Great Wakering Rovers needed them far more than tonight's opponents, Bethnal Green United. Back in East London, though, the evening's visitors had dispatched Rovers quite comfortably 2-0. Burroughs Park seemed set for an intriguing, if not entertaining, battle.
Since the last time, things had gone to form elsewhere. Southend United had duly been dumped out of the FA Cup after having the carrot of a home tie with Chelsea dangled in front of them. Ross County, improbably, sat in a very comfortable second bottom in the SPL, 11 points from relegation, but 9 points from Europe with two games in hand. Hearts, despite having no players above the age of 7, were a couple of points and places better off.
Tonight, meanwhile, saw Rovers three points behind ESL leaders Burnham Ramblers. Takeley were lurking, with their games in hand. Bethnal Green, however, had to win tonight, otherwise their own faint title hopes were gone. I was far more interested, however, in Bri's miners headlamp, which he wore whilst reporting on the game. Bloody hell, mate, just do what I do, get the scores right and make the rest of it up. And sometimes I don't even get the scores correct either.
It's probably just as well Rovers don't let me loose on their media output, mind. One player in the squad is touchy enough about criticism to actually send e-mails of complaint. Chortle. Really, that'd be like shooting fish in a barrel. I fear he'd get arthritis in his fingers with all the correspondence he'd be typing up after a Groyne take on things, true or not.
Anyway, I digress. As kick-off time approached, Bethnal Green hadn't. The old chestnut of traffic jams. Kick off delayed. Bastards. Far too cold for this. Can they not just start without them? Just like Scotland did in Estonia - and still only drew 0-0. Bit embarrassing, that scoreline, mind. For Estonia, of course.
It did give us time to have a nosey through the all singing, all dancing new quid programme. All revamped and advertising GWRovers TV, a youtube channel where you can see entire Rovers games. Bearing in mind most of us didn't even want to see the actual game being played in front of us, I wasn't tempted by their new service.
Eventually, the visitors turned up and, in their Ivory Coast coloured away kit, turned up on the pitch as well. They used the elements in their favour well. It was pretty direct but when you have pace and the wind behind you, it's what you're going to do. Bethnal Green deservedly went 1-0 up early on, a smart finish from inside the area after a cross on the right, and came mighty close to a second before there was 15 minutes on the clock. Rovers were in trouble.
There should have a sense of urgency from the supporters as well as players, to start to get into the game, but people were just too cold, too wet. It was grim watching, through no fault of the players on the pitch. We were reduced to talking about the bespectacled lino, who was a ringer from Bronson out of Grange Hill. Either that or how Charles Hawtrey would look like now if he was still alive.
Whilst this was not going on, Rovers at last almost threatened, a free kick causing a bit of kerfuffle in the area and put out eventually for a corner. I turned round and got back onto the conversation about whether you fancied Mrs. McClusky in Grange Hill or not, me siding with 'she could teach you far more than the 3 r's' camp. As I did so, of course, Rovers equalised. I saw the Rovers players turning away in delight and two Bethnal Green defenders on their arse, moaning at each other. Chortle.
That was it really. You knew the game was up for Bethnal Green. They started the second half well, but the first time Rovers attacked after the break, they scored, via the post. When your luck's out, it's out. The game was forgettable, so much so that I know Rovers scored again, but within about 10 seconds of it being scored I'd forgotten how.
The match finished late, and as soon as the final whistle blew, it had been consigned both to and from the memory bank. The result had been all important and Rovers got what they wanted. As Jim walked by, he praised the Bethnal Green side but said their talking into the ref's ear throughout was 'disgraceful'. Seeing as the host side's player-manager had been up to his usual antics of shouting aggressively at the ref at some decisions he perceived as being wrong, it was at best ironic.
Level on points with Burnham Ramblers at the top of the ESL now, though. A team that Rovers apparently are certainly not worried about. So much so that the programme editor and Trenks insisted in print that they weren't bothered at all by them or what they said on twitter. Yeah, rightio, they certainly haven't got under Rovers skin. Chortle.
We were soon back to warming comfort of the Mystery Machine, replete with sick bowl. When we got back to the Bay, I took my severely creased and folded programme out of my coat pocket to get at my door keys. Bri and Ed looked on aghast. A creased programme was akin to holding a house party with a Mr. and Mrs. West and a Mr. Fritzel. With a Dr. Shipman on hand for any first aid. Their faces betrayed their shock. Chortle. Yet again.
Terrible game, cold and freezing, and willful homocide of a programme. It's good to be back.
Great Wakering Rovers 3, Bethnal Green United 1
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