Magic of the Cup *hic*

Maidenhead United 4-2 Bognor Regis Town

A decent result for the Magpies, on Saturday, against Bognor Regis Town in the FA Cup (and Didcot Town away, in the next round, is a more-than-satisfactory reward).

Match details elsewhere.

Dublin resident Macleod (C) was back in the Royal County for a Christening (not his). I met him in the Anchor Swanky Danky cocktail bar at lunchtime and we consumed an epic a foolish amount of Guinness (ahead of Arthur’s Day, later this week, co-incidentally).

A monstrous hangover still lingers ...

As such, I'll keep words to a minimum (is that cheering, I can hear?) and instead allow pictures - a handful of which were uploaded to Tw@tter on the day, using my phone, after the KSG's Technology Correspondent showed me how - to, hopefully, tell the story ...

^^^ Ebbsfleet three down. They would go on to lose 4-2. Good. 

^^^ Breach!

^^^ Messrs Chandler and Urry look on, pensively.

^^^ Floodlight Fancy

^^^ View of the Bell End. We stood behind the dugouts as the game neared its conclusion. Drax swore more times, in this 10-15 mins or so period, than I/we did at Ebbsfleet. Right in front of the Chairman as well. #familyclubmyarse

^^^ View of the Canal End. 'Easy-on-the-eye' BRTFC physio out of shot. Sadly.

^^^ Probably tweeting fawning congratulations to 'Mad Dog' Martin Allen on another three points for Gillingham. Seconds after this photo was taken, Messrs Steward and Swan would be shaking hands. The latter still alive then ...

^^^ Pointing out to Hensonovich that Villa were losing!

^^^ Barmaid better at pouring pints than taking photos, thankfully.

^^^ Impressive Fosters logo medallion. I wonder whether it'll catch on, like the Beastie Boys' VW logo chains in the 80s ...

^^^ Stripes has been stripped bare. This is about the only photo frame left ... and it's there to cover up a hole! At least it's a good one (the photo frame, not the hole).

^^^ Clearly not everyone was thrilled by the MUFC win.

^^^ The Maidenhead United FC Hall of Fame.

^^^ Away fans soaking up the sun.

^^^ The legendary Jack Pearce gets hearty applause.

^^^ BRTFC players in the bar.

^^^ MUFC players in the bar. Legendary kitman Jon Urry serenaded with a rendition of 'Happy Birthday'.

^^^ Macleod (C) with the birthday boy. Present? He'd like any (presumably unused?) sick bags from now-defunct airlines. Seriously.

^^^ 17:45 - less than an hour after the final whistle - and, aside from Dereck 'Grandad' Brown (and us two), Stripes was totally deserted. Drax probably still giving players marks out of ten in the dressing room. #professional

^^^ Youth team player Kyle Lucas (above, left) made an appearance as a late substitute (his debut?). We spoke to at him on the way out of the ground and he seemed a nice lad. It was suggested that @maidenheadutd would sponsor him - and money was about to be passed over in the Anchor - before a debate ensued and the cash was re-pocketed. Indignation prevails - rightly or wrongly - regarding MUSA's perceived lack of support, post-Ebbsfleet.

^^^ Saturday night in the Anchor, post-MUFC home game = smiles all round. #justlikeoldtimes

^^^ AVFC a recent addition - pride o' place above the bar - to the still-burgeoning scarf mural. #southampton, #sirrickielambert

^^^ The programme was a decent read; the best I can remember, actually. Buy one.

^^^ Jonny Wah Wah laughed at what I was wearing (Black Arabs 1883 retro shirt; a recent birthday gift from the wife) when I first walked into the pub. #pot, #kettle, #black ;-)

^^^ Macleod (C) on the jukebox. Educated Left Foot has his head in his hands. Unrelated events? Possibly not. #philcollins, #eltonjohn, #wham

^^^ Guest author of the reasonably accurate @gomadstopcaring half-time report. #rantzone

^^^ Anchor barmaid and MUSA Chairman. Job swap anyone?

^^^ Macleod (M) wasn't even drunk, believe it or not?! 

As you can see, it was a long but enjoyable day (for some more so than others!)

The photo of Bobby P, further up, reminded me of the following video:

He once said to me - recorded in another video, I think - "Life; live it" 

 

 Sound advice, Bob, sound advice. 

8 (E I G H T)

In the Pond House on Saturday evening - ahead of a visit to a nearby curry house to celebrate my birthday with family and friends - and someone at the bar mentioned that Maidenhead United had lost 8-0. Without checking, I knew the scoreline might be correct, but it wouldn't have been the Magpies on the end of such a battering. Not against Truro City, who had finally gone into Administration earlier in the week and deducted ten points.

Some thoughts:

1. I've read conflicting reports regarding what extent Truro's financial problems affected their team selection. Regardless, first-choice keeper Tim Sandercombe definitely played. He was instrumental in the Magpies' 2-1 win in Cornwall last September, throwing in one - arguably both - of our goals. I note he also gave away a penalty at York Road on Saturday. The new Ryan Northmore? I doubt Truro's Youth team keeper can be much worse.
2. It became clear during our visit last year that there was some disquiet (to put it mildly) among the home support re then-Chairman Kevin Heaney. You didn't need to be a genius to surmise that - like Colne Dynamoes, Newbury Town and others - it would end in tears.
3. Paul Semakula and Reece Tison-Lascaris (the latter with a hat trick) among the Maidenhead goals - remarkably, all bar one of them coming in the second half! Semakula seems to have a welcome knack for scoring from midfield, while RTL stood out in several games I saw last season. RTL the best of a talented crop of York Road youngsters?
4. One report I've seen lists the attendance as 374. Most - including the national Sunday papers - state 274, however. I doubt many will have travelled from Cornwall, but the latter would still be a rather disappointing figure.
5. I recall Maidenhead conceding eight before, at Bognor Regis Town (more on them later) in November 2005, but never scoring eight. Apparently, it is our biggest win since Bishop's Stortford were hit for 9 (N I N E) in April 1971, with future Hall of Famer Mick Chatterton bagging five.
6. United now up to third in the table, sandwiched between fellow non-league giants Dorchester Town and Boreham Wood (#conferencesouthgettingstrongermyarse). Talk on Tw@tter about 'dizzy new heights', but we topped the table early on during the 2008/09 season. It was around this time that Mark Steward imposed upon a MUSA AGM with a 'sponsor-a-seat' proposal. Expect this master plan to be regurgitated if our excellent form continues (#saynotoseatsonthebellend).
7. There were other eye-catching results in the division on Saturday, e.g. Dover's sub-standard home form continuing with a 1-0 defeat against HAYU and strongly-fancied pre-season favourites Eastleigh getting thumped 4-0 at Billericay. They languish in 9th and 16th place, respectively. There is no doubt in my mind that Drax would have both of these clubs promoted, probably at a canter. Unfortunately for them, multiple contract extensions mean he's now tied to the York Road dugout until 2031 ... or thereabouts.
8. However, this campaign is still in its infancy. Last season we were also doing reasonably well until our FA Cup run distracted us from the bread and butter of the league. Talking of the FA Cup, the draw for the 2nd Qualifying Round was this lunchtime; Bognor Regis Town at home. Massive yawn. Still, I suppose another 8-0 win would finally avenge the aforementioned 8-1 defeat in 2005. I might spend some of my birthday money, on a cheeky wager, just in case ...