Hello folks it's good to be back writing. It's been a bit of a break for me whilst the Cobbler's have embarked on their league campaign. as you know I took in the Carling Cup win at Reading, (That seems an age away now), as there have been a lot of going's on during my absence from Sixfields.
Recap the last few weeks:
Cobbler's drawn to face Liverpool, at Anfield in next round of Carling Cup - Northampton Town to grace the hallowed turf of Anfield. Fantastic money spinner for the club, great night out for supporter's - result would be nice but doesn't seem to matter. The tie means that as a business we continue forward to next season in a healthier position than we were before the Reading game.
Thrashed in Johnstone's Paint Trophy at Hartlepool - get that one out of the way early lads, it can only improve from there.
Slow start in the league - struggling to score in open play, seem to be OK from the penalty spot but that elusive first win still eludes us.
Luck comes in three's, (In this case, bad), Purcell out for Season. This is a real shame as he looked the part at Reading. Gilligan out for three months, (now, carrying injury for "The good of the team", Hall out for a month with hamstring injury. Our squad is only just big enough to cope with these injuries but it's a bare bones approach in key positions.
Transfer deadline came and went with no ripples caused on roads in or out of Sixfields.
Oscar returned to Tottenham - Thanks Harry.
Cobbler's sign new striker in Leon McKenzie, (goal machine at this level for previous clubs, Premiership experience, Struggled with injuries! Hopeful that he can stay injury free, gain match fitness and score some goals. Should be more than capable at this level.
Bought a new hat and scarf at club shop - This is good preparation for a man of my age sitting in the cold during the winter months. I now have a Shirt, Tracky Top, Coat, Hat and Scarf. Should be warm enough by my reckoning - Note to self, (might have to wear long trousers in the winter or knees will knock and legs will chap). What happened to chapped legs and chilblains. I grew up with them as a kid but they seem to have been superseded by today's latest fashion, namely "Hormones".
There was nothing more painful than having to rub Vaseline into your chapped thighs, pain bought about by the lack of long trousers, rain and wind. A combination that stays fesh in my memory. (I was nearly twelve for God's sake). I never really understood how you got chilblains, something to do with having your feet in front of the fire or something. Same with "Cankers". What the hell is Cankers. Supposedly came from putting coins in your mouth - What!! I must have been so gullible as a kid, still am I think! (I was the kid on the streets of Kingsthorpe telling the van with the tunes that we didn't need any sausages today. (I didn't know he sold ice cream!!))
Anyway at least none of the players has got "Cankers", that would surely be a career threatening disease.
So it's match day. Northampton Town vs. Southend United. (Think this is pronounced Saaarf-end).
I'm as excited as hell in anticipation. We need a win. We need a win badly to kick start our league campaign. We've got a new striker. Will he play? Big crowd anticipated, not because of the quality opposition, in fact it's nothing to do with today's match at all really, it just so happens that the club have made the Liverpool tickets available through a scheme that makes people buy a ticket for this game to get one for the Liverpool game. (I'm not going to Liverpool. I wish the lads well, but I bought my season ticket for different reasons and cannot be accused of getting on the glory trail by turning up just because it's Liverpool).
I collect my son from County Youth Orchestra and we head to Sixfields for a pre match meal. (It's important that you have enough protein, carbohydrates and vitamins to last 90 minutes, I've spent the last 50 years honing this temple to the athletic form that it is now, and all this additional Saturday afternoon exercise needs to be fuelled), so we head for KFC!!!
Well it ain't quite Chicken and Pasta, but the chicken bit counts! (Lettuce and Tomato, two of my five-a-day. Healthy eating campaign back on track!)
The place is swarming with Southend, (Saaarf-end), shirts. I feel we have invaded the pre-match team talk for supporters, what shall we sing first? Who shall we shout abuse at? etc, etc. Do Cobbler's supporters eat in KFC on matchday? Should we be in McDonalds?
Meal consumed we take in the Sixfields atmosphere - crowded round the telly watching Everton and Man Utd on the Sky lunchtime fixture - I now realise that watching the Premier games is like watching fantasy football. It seems unreal and is far removed from the Championship, League one and League two. The passion for the game remains at grass roots. I'm glad I've re-discovered it - It's real life and real football watched by real people. (Complete my five-a-day with 2 Blackcurrant and 1 Lime fruit pastilles. Feeling fit and ready for action!)
Kick Off - McKenzie plays!!
It was announced during the gladiatorial entrance of the two teams that our new striker would start. Real celebrations lead by real supporters resulted in three balloons finding their way onto the pitch!! What happened to the ticker tape welcome offered by fans in '78? Sign of the times I suppose. (Even Nena managed 99 red ones - look her up if your lost). Does anyone still chuck toilet rolls?
Glen Thurgood still lining up the drinks bottles - now filled I suspect with the new nutrient mixture supplied by USANA Health Sciences. (KFC do a similar mix it's called Flat Pepsi!!)
I'd like to spend the next few paragraphs rejoicing in the flowing football and silky skills on offer at Sixfields this afternoon, but I can't. There wasn't any. I sent a text at half-time to my brother, Chris, (second mention Bruv, I'm building your part up for your walk on appearance sometime round the New Year, but your not getting any commission!), to report that I was suffering from neck ache having spent most of the half watching the ball against the blue skies of Northamptonshire. If we kicked it high, they kicked it higher. No one stood out, nothing happened. I think there was one shot on target and couple of half chances for Mckenzie early on.
It's hardly surprising that the players on the pitch looked confused - the supporters were also passing on sideline instructions - Play Some Football, Keep it on the ground, stick your foot through it, pass it wide, play it long, pass it short, send it early, hold it up, play it back, play it forward - what the hell do they expect!!!
(I have now overdosed on vitamin C, thanks to fruit pastilles and need to increase chocolate intake to counteract. Eat Twix!)
Second half - Things can only get better. No they can't, Southend, (Saaarf-end), take the lead. This is looking grim.
However our young in-experienced team with experienced players seem to have realised that there is a job to be done and are now chasing the game with a new vigour and drive. Add to this the quality and frustration that is Kevin Thornton and suddenly we looked interested.
Osman sweeps the ball into the roof of the net following a piece of control and hassling from McKenzie, 1-1. We cheered with relief.
Thornton is now controlling our midfield. Not so many passes going astray and he looks comfortable changing the pace of the game.
Corner to the Cobbler's. Andy Holt meets ball almost unchallenged, 2-1 Cobblers. This game is easy!!!
Quality cross from Johnson met by Osman - rebounds off the post-unlucky, could have been game over.
Nervy last ten minutes for players and supporters. Huge sigh of relief when final whistle blown. We have our first win under our belt and it feels good to be a Cobbler's supporter!
Holt was named man of the match - They could have picked anyone as they were all much of a muchness in my opinion - I thought the most impressive player on the pitch was Southend's, (Saaarf-end's), central defender, Bilel Mohsni, (Six Foot Three, 22 year old Tunisian), very promising. He hardly missed a header all afternoon - hardly surprising then that we played everything in the air towards him!
If we can play like this and still get three points then there's hope for us all. I've been around enough football to realise that there are more games like this than good ones and I'll take whatever we can get - but one of these days we are going to give someone a good hiding. We can then all be reminded that there's always another "Southend," ("Saarf-end), game just around the corner! There's no pleasing some folk!
It's rumoured that we are still on the look out for a couple of Loanee's once the Fantasy League teams release their youngsters to the Championship sides. If we can pick up a couple of quality youngsters who knows where it will lead.
See you next time vs. Bradford City - Oh the anticipation!
Come On Cobblers, Come On!!
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