Since beating Southend United at Roots Hall in early October ("arguably our best/ most satisfying away day in the National League"), the Magpies' only win in nine games had come in a replay vs Taunton Town of the Southern League Premier Division South (3-0 massively flattered us), with losses including a painful FA Cup exit to Crawley Town (extending our unmatched losing record in the 1st Round Proper of that particular competition), a humbling home defeat to Forest Green Rovers (dropping us back into the NL relegation places), and Binfield – 14th in the Isthmian League South Central Division One – dumping us out of the Berks & Bucks; as such, it's safe to say that most of us travelled on Saturday, to reacquaint ourselves with familiar foes, bereft of confidence and with low expectations ... of a positive result, at least – my expectations were more optimistic regarding post-match beers with some of the Gandermonium lot
Until Tuesday and an enjoyable evening with him watching Mercury Music Prize-winning English Teacher at the Shepherd's Bush Empire, I had expected Macleod (M) to drive to Sutton, but he had places to go and people to see on Saturday night (namely Elvana at The Hexagon in Reading); so he wouldn't be going to the game, meaning I sought the company of Rainey (back from international duty in Athens) and Mo Khan for the 10:32 train to Wimbledon (via Paddington and the District Line) and then the short walk to the Wetherspoons opposite the theatre (FYI – Jack & The Beanstalk, ft. Joe Pasquale, is this year's panto)
There were a dozen or so Maidenhead fans on the 14:25 Thameslink train to West Sutton, which we caught after I'd dashed to the charity shops on Broadway (Libby the Story-Writing Fairy and Faith the Cinderella Fairy – 50p each from Scope – would equal big points from my kids, or so I thought); discussion centred on our starting lineup, with no one quite sure what formation we'd be playing (which is seldom a good sign)
The conga on Saturday – if there had been one – would've been much shorter (time-wise) than the one this much-altered ground had witnessed during #FDXV in 2015: the 113 away fans were restricted to the middle part of the side opposite the main stand, with the view from the back of the covered section largely obscured by reinforced pillars, while you were below pitch-level when stood on the AstroTurf at the front #noddy
One-nil was the final score, and we were fortunate it wasn't a heavier defeat (MUFC played 3-5-2 – with Welch-Hayes at RCB – for perhaps the first time since Dev's initial spell in charge, and it showed); our performance was better in the second half (especially after Remy came on), but not by much (their keeper didn't have a save to make all game), and the main talking point was the ejection at the break of several away fans – seemingly picked at random – on the insistence of the referee after the follicly-challenged linesman in front of us complained of intimidation ... you might think I'm making this up, but I'm not! (In hindsight, we should've walked out en masse, but in fairness, I don't think we were able to process the almost unbelievable proceedings until it was too late; Griff and Steve J. were among those loudly remonstrating with the stewards and police, which gives you an indication of things.)
Nick the Greek (real name Paul?!) was one of several home fans with whom we reacquainted ourselves in their bar – shout-outs also to Amber Aleman, Taz, Sal, Mike, Keepo, Barry, Dukey, and the rest; they're a good bunch – and he gifted me a bottle of Prosecco that he'd won on a raffle, which Les had probably polished off by the time Shay and I made it to the Alexandra in Wimbledon for more beers (Sambrook's Pumphouse, surrounded by South Africans who'd been watching the egg-chasing); so, another instalment of 'good day out tainted by 90 minutes of football'? TBH, I'm coming around to the conclusion that I've had my fill of paying exorbitant entry fees (£21, rising to £24 on the day) to watch crap football in crap away ends, officiated by crybaby w@nkers and generally treated like vermin ... and losing my charity shop purchases somewhere on the journey home certainly didn't help my mood! :(
Well done @suttonpodcast @suttonunited you've joined the ranks of non league clubs who treat away fans like scum. Such a shame as Gander Green Lane used to be such a friendly place to visit. pic.twitter.com/BwlkSiUmim
— Steve (@EducatedLeftFt) November 16, 2024
