It's only the Carling Cup - Next Round!!!

So, I've missed the last league home game versus Accrington Stanley as my presence was required elsewhere. The Cobblers have also managed an away draw at Bury and we lie closer to the bottom of the league than the top. Not what we were expecting based on our pre season showing but "It's a marathon, not a sprint," so hope remains eternal.

Tonight's Carling Cup game pitches us against the might of Reading F.C., who only a couple of seasons ago were gracing the echelons of the Premier League and upsetting a few fancy names during their stay. However, "footballs a funny old game Saint," and anything can happen in ninety minutes.

The quirk of tonight's game as I have previously mentioned in my blogs, is the fact that the rest of my family are Reading season ticket holders, (Mum, Dad, Brother, Sis, Cousins etc), and tonight my son and I will be inhabiting seats amongst the Reading faithful to enjoy the family camaraderie, banter, winding-up etc etc.

For the first time this season I am not feeling that confident about tonight's result, we've started slowly and so have Reading, but the last time I attended a Reading match they had also had a slow start to the season and were playing Luton Town in the Carling Cup, (Deja-Vu tells me that they could be due to give someone a right hiding as they did that night, (Won 5-1)). Hope not!

I've promised me mum that I would suffer in silence and not be the lone Cobbler's voice echoing from the Reading West Stand - it don't go down well with the locals to have a foreigner being a bit vocal. The stewards have usually got an opinion as well. Anyway I've collected the folks and we travel to the temple that is known in Reading as the "Mad-Stad." (Madejski Stadium, named after the local millionaire John Madejski who has ploughed his millions, (very successful used car salesman), into Reading FC as chairman).

I'm not tight by any means, but isn't eight quid a bit steep to park your car for a couple of hours!! They obviously don't want you to bring your car to Reading. (If we charged that for parking at Sixfields we could have a new striker in a couple of weeks!!)

Just to be good, and because of our seats I have omitted my Cobblers shirt from tonight's attire. I'll gamble on the "Jackson Grundy" jacket. If I manage to keep my mouth shut all night, (promised me mum), then only the bloke behind me will put two and two together. (Hang on this is Reading, I should be OK!!!!).

We've spread out along the row to try and save eleven seats - Didn't know the Reading bench was this high up in the stand, Novel!

Me brother's gang are leaving it to the last minute to put in an appearance and we're getting pestered by plenty to give up the seats. No chance. He'll be here when his glass is empty!!

It was good to see the Cobbler's training steps lined up along the touchline. It had provoked a lot of interest / amusement from those around me. I can't blow my cover this early, the match ain't started yet.

Good start by the team announcer - our centre forward tonight has now been re-named - ladies and gentlemen I give you "Tadge Persil!!!!" (Proper name Tadgh Purcell - pronounced "Tie").

I noticed on the Reading web site that one of the players, Jem Karacan, had said, "They will come here wanting to pit their wits against a big club."

Don't get me wrong, I've already identified Reading as a Championship club, but a "Big club!" - Note to Mr Karacan - you're only as big as the team on the pitch with you. You have no divine right to start in front or to win against a "Small" club, hopefully you'll get what your throw away comment deserves.

It don't take long - 17 minutes, Reading 1-0 B******ks!

It seems like the whole of the stand has swallowed me up in celebration. Music, Dancing and lots of arm waving. Two people remain silent and seated.

20 minutes - Reading 1 Cobblers 1 - Yes!

No music, no dancing, Two people cheering and whooping. 6000 people seated and silent!!

This could be a good night. It's end to end stuff with chances for both teams. Impressed with Reading player Antonio. Very quick, very skillful, bloody nuisance!

Half time is upon us before we know it - good first half for the Cobblers. We've held our own against a "Big" team.

It was noted during the first half that the Camera man obviously got bored as there suddenly appeared a rather artistic shot of the moon on the big screen. He won't need to let everyone know that it's night time as we can now see the moon with our own eyes above the stadium. Stick to the game mate, you might miss something interesting.

My brother Chris, (he wanted to be named as no one has ever mentioned him on the Internet before! There you go bruv, you've now arrived!), has appeared for the second half - (apparently you can order drinks for the interval at Reading like you do at the theatre. Very civilised. No wonder he goes every week), has keenly observe that the Cobblers Fitness Coach (Glen Thurgood), is suffering from OCD!

"How do you work that out?"

"He's lined all the drink bottles up in one corner of the technical area, all facing the same way. We just chuck ours anywhere."

Perhaps it takes someone with OCD to notice another or perhaps it's a good sign that the Cobblers like their house in order and that Reading are a bit of a mish mash arrangement!

62 minutes - Reading 2 Cobblers 1 - Hal Robson-Kanu, (Good Welsh name that one)

Ditto 17 minutes. - Boring, Boring, yawn, yawn.

My brother is now totally confident that his regular 3-1 Reading bet is about to reward the bank balance for the evening. As soon as he announces the forthcoming funds they are absorbed into the household by my sister in law! (I'll leave your name out Jax, just in case you ticked the no publicity box on the form!!)

64 minutes - Reading 2 Cobblers 2 - Kevin Thornton, (God like performance so far tonight).

Ditto 20 minutes (times 3).

Brother's household funds are now swiftly returned to Messrs William Hill or which ever gambling charity he invests in!! Abuse sent in my direction with aplomb - I didn't score the equaliser, honest!

"There's always next week mate," I offer.

Cobbler's are dominating the second half, it's difficult to tell who the "Big" club is. Kevin Thornton denied a wonder goal after waltzing round four defenders. Michael Jacobs causing problems down the left as well as attracting compliments from Reading fans around me.

94th minute - 2 Cobblers fans in West Stand and about 800 behind the goal reach the heights of ecstasy as Steve Guinan scores the winner!

"He's offside, he's offside," cheers my Brother. (Ditto 17 minutes, Word 9). Extra time.

114 minutes - Reading 3 Cobblers 2. We've excelled tonight but surely we can't come back again!

This is not the Cobblers of old, this is not the team that couldn't score against Accrington Stanley, (That's a bigger team than Reading in lettering terms!), this team tonight have belief.

Reading denied a stonewall penalty in dying seconds.

125th minute, yes the ref played until we scored as he felt we were the better team on the night and wanted to see it through to penalties.

125th minute - Shot, Deflection, Whatever - Reading 3 Cobblers 3 - Ecstasy.

Can't shout much more, lost my voice. Ref seems popular with the locals as they are all offering him advise.

Penalties - I'm not going through them one by one. Reading missed two and we didn't. Cobblers win 4-2 on penalties and go into the draw for a "Big" team.

We won't forget our night out at the "Mad Stad" for a long long time. Bragging rights have been graciously accepted and on tonight's performance we look forward to a league visit next season!!

I'm sorry Mum, I broke my promise to keep quiet and not show anyone up. 17 minutes wasn't that bad and I know you had more problems with the behaviour of a couple of local fans. Dad, don't get so involved, it's only a football match!!!

It was a "Nice" drive back up the A43. I suspect that most cars heading back my way were full of jubilant almost bewildered Cobblers fans, still trying to work out how our "Little" team had beat their "Big" team.

I hope Ian Sampson pinned that interview up on the wall before the game. Something must have happened 'cause tonight we owned 'em! (Oh by the way, Sammo smiled. Sammo smiled a lot).

"Come On Cobblers, Come On!"