A veritable horde of Maidenhead fans on the 07:32 train to Reading; topics of conversation on the journey north included the ticket inspector's resemblance to Ade Edmondson, the Saudi takeover of NUFC, favourite Belle & Sebastian songs (Craig's vote for number one went to the title track of their second EP), and a long-overdue chant for Alan Massey
Let's get the football out of the way early: the Magpies' performance at Moss Lane was rank, and we were comfortably outplayed by a decent (if nothing special) side that we might not face again next season unless Dev quickly strengthens a squad severely lacking (1) midfield creativity and (2) forwards capable of providing a reliable goal threat
The Jolly Crofter (we changed trains at Stockport, which reminded me – not in a good way – of Chemnitz) was the first of several pre-match watering holes: Pi (some amusingly named ABC beers; discussion about 'Berks & Bucks towns as Premier League football clubs'), Jack in the Box ("another place more suited to a meal with the wife and the kids, rather than an away day with lads"), the Cheshire Tap (pints of Beartown – if not, sadly, Crème Bearlee – in an establishment that resembled an actual pub!), and Costello's Bar (group photo time)
Rank performance from the Magpies! Did I mention that already? OK, as you were ...
I wanted to go into Roy's Sports Bar, obvs., after expensive post-match pints on the Alty Bell End, but, following a supermarket sweep in Tesco Extra (better than recent efforts, especially as there was almost too much choice), we sensibly decided to whet our pre-departure whistles in the Station Hotel (carryout stashed behind the bar, as insisted upon by the door staff)
None of us realised that the train we were on from Stockport was running late – I was too busy being bombarded with photos of beautiful beaches by members of the Egypt tourist board and sharing After Eights (straws, not squares) with fellow passengers Loughborough Jess (not the woman pictured above frightening Murdo) and Shai with an 'i' – so late, in fact, that we would miss our connection at Reading
Clubbing together for an Uber ride might've been a good idea at this point, but the choices considered were (A) stay put and wait more than an hour for the next Maidenhead stopper, (B) get a train – past York Road – for a connection at Slough, or (C) hit the town
Hit the town (i.e. Revolucion de Cuba) was the correct answer, or so Shay with a 'y' and I reckoned at the time; Craig and TWS – if not Macleod (M) – opted for (B)
Another good day out tainted by 90 minutes of football, then? Not so much. (Hey ho, at least Sutton United won we got to catch up with N.O'G. for the first time since Halesowen.)
My next Maidenhead away game will probably be our midweek trip to Southend in late November; here's hoping that (1) any new manager bounce they've enjoyed subsides in the meantime and (2) Sam Barratt and Emile Acquah can produce the goods – stop laughing at the back! – against their former club
One thing I noticed today, whilst writing the latest blog post, is that our last two results - 3-2 defeat at home to King's Lynn; 0-0 at Yeovil - have been exactly the same as the corresponding fixtures from 2020/21. Best lump on 2-0 to Altrincham then, ahead of Saturday. 😕
— ɢᴏ ᴍᴀᴅ ᴏʀ sᴛᴏᴘ ᴄᴀʀɪɴɢ (@gomadstopcaring) October 6, 2021
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