Since the Tamworth debacle and then an undeserved defeat at home to Halifax, the Magpies had rebounded impressively to take six much-needed points from league games vs Ebbsfleet and at Boston, which had lifted Berkshire's finest out of the relegation zone and set us up rather nicely ahead of a first Saturday visit to Roots Hall (especially as the Shrimpers had lost 3-1 in their two previous home matches, sandwiching a 1-1 draw – thanks to a very late equaliser – at Wealdstone); as such, there was some degree of hope and excitement as Macleod (M) and I walked to the station, where we met with the Batemans (x3) ahead of the 08:30 Lizzy line train
Options – after discussing Illan Meslier's extraordinary gaffe for Leeds at Sunderland, Boys Wonder's comeback gig at the Temple of Art and Music in Elephant & Castle, and Gent fans throwing various items at LB and others at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night – included staying on until Liverpool Street or changing at Bond Street to get the Greater Anglia train from Stratford; we went for the latter, and, after failing to identify the blue and yellow replica shirt with a predominantly green club badge worn by a match-going fan who boarded the Norwich-bound train before ours (any ideas?), arrived into Southend Victoria slightly ahead of schedule ... fruitlessly, as it happens, as the Olde Trout Tavern wasn't open
Ultimately, though, it was for the best, as coffees, Coral lager and other local delicacies (including pastel de nata) in Monte's Madeiran café went down a treat before we met with the birthday boy (Kev B) et al. in the Wetherspoons for £2.63 pints of Plum Porter; then to the pier – the longest in the world – for more beers (overpriced), photos with LB's flag and of turnstones in the sunshine, and another train ride
The bus to the ground was cancelled (not an uncommon occurrence, apparently), so Macleod (M) and I walked to Roots Hall via Greggs (helping to account, according to my Garmin watch, for over 15 miles worth of steps on the day); 24 quid for a ticket – the cost rising, without much/ any warning from either club, by £2 on match day – took the f**kin' piss and further highlighted the ridiculousness of that ground hopper fella on Twitter who recently singled out the prices at York Road for criticism
Head of Lokko put us ahead after 13 minutes, and we should've been more than one up at the interval: Smith dallied when we had an overload on a breakaway; McCoulsky nodded wide when well-positioned; there was one off the line (that looked like it might've been over – Flashscore thought it was); and Pettit was blatantly manhandled in the box as a corner came in ("We always get shit refs") – they were there for the taking, but the next goal would be crucial ...
Early pressure from Kevin Maher's boys in the second half, but Owen Cochrane (impressive overall) did well to clear off the line, and after man-of-the-match Kevin Lokko doubled the lead with another header from another Nathan Ferguson set piece, we managed to keep a mediocre home side at arm's length with relative ease; the 101 away fans (including legendary ex-Magpies Paul Dadson and Sean Marks) lustily serenaded ex-Shrimpers Ferguson (impressive overall; Wealdstone could probably do with him back), Shawn McCoulsky (who had fallen over in the second half when it seemed easier to stay on his feet and score), Sam Barratt (one of only two used subs – why doesn't Dev make more, if only to waste clock as other clubs have done and will do to us?), and Emile Acquah (a goalscorer for Barrow vs Cheltenham) as time wound down on arguably our most satisfying away win in the National League (which, TBF, is saying something)
Next Saturday's trip to Taunton in the FA Cup, the reopening of Ashley Down railway station in Bristol, and The Cannonball Run – specifically someone (make yourself known if you're reading) going as Captain Chaos for #FDXXI at Gateshead – were topics of conversation as we munched on carbs from the chippy opposite and supped decent ales, including a fruit sour from Vault City, at West Road Tap (despite some knobhead moaning – albeit not within my earshot – that it was "home fans only"); a debate about our favourite crisps over more decent beers, including another Vault City fruit sour (this one even better), in Mile and A Third after a ten-minute or so walk past several Indian restaurants, at least two more Madeiran establishments, and (Bobby) Behzadi's Barbers
Discussion in the (micro) pubs and on the non-delayed journey home, soundtracked by the MUFC jukebox playlist on Spotify, was dominated by the question of whether this really was our best/ most satisfying away day in the National League (so far); with all due respect to the legendary pre-Christmas win at Hartlepool in 2017, beating champions-elect Leyton Orient at their place in February 2019, etc., and despite this being the weakest Southend side we've played, I think it might be
Here's hoping the away fans are singing Best Years of Our Lives by Modern Romance at the end. 🙏🏻 https://t.co/5mFY3cwSFu
— ɢᴏ ᴍᴀᴅ ᴏʀ sᴛᴏᴘ ᴄᴀʀɪɴɢ (@gomadstopcaring) October 2, 2024
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