A Game For Relaxation and Enjoyment

"The underdog often starts the fight, and occasionally the upper dog deserves to win." - Edgar Watson Howe (novelist)

It's Carling Cup night at Sixfields Stadium and tonight's visitors to Northampton, (The Cobblers), (English Football League, Division 2), (tonight's Underdog), are Wolverhampton Wanderers, (Wolves), (English Football Premier League), (tonight's Upper Dog). Hardly a fair competition on paper but this is football, two teams, 1 ball, 90 minutes. (Well 90 minutes if scores are level after 90 minutes, otherwise another 30 minutes and potentially a penalty shoot-out if the scores are still level after the extra 30 minutes). At this rate we might not get home till midnight!

I've always enjoyed an evening game. It brings it's own special atmosphere to football grounds along with the bright glare of the floodlights, and at this time of the year, an ever increasing evening dew on the pitch as the cool night air takes over from daytime warmth. Evening matches at Sixfields are no different and we have had our fare share of exciting evening games at Northampton.

A good crowd for a Tuesday night, queues into the car parks, and queues at the turnstiles. Happy days.

Oh, queue at the bar as well! I thought it was warm in here on Saturday, but tonight it is stifling as well as heaving. (They still haven't fixed the grainy reception on one of the TV screens), (It's little details that can enhance a visit to anywhere), and tonight their are plenty of visitors from Wolverhampton enjoying a pint of Northampton's finest !!?? (It's a bit different from their local brew, Banks' anyone?)

So what about the game itself then. Well, before we started it was nice to see that what appeared to be one of last season's loanee's, (Michael Uwezu, (Spitting Image)), had moved on to become The Wolves' fitness coach. Wondered where he'd gone!

Wolves are fielding predictably a second string of players not yet had a run out for the first team this season. They are in the main not wannabes or has beens. There is plenty of Premiership experience lined up against our lads, and they proceeded to stamp their authority on the game as the first half progressed. Our talisman "Bayo" was patrolled all evening by the significant figure of George Elikobi. It was a great battle with both players fully committed to the cause and both winning their fair share of battles.

Cobblers had a few early chances, Davies had a shot blocked, Bayo pulled one over from all of two yards and Lewis Young, (impressive again tonight), had a shot well saved.

But it was Wolves that were pulling the strings and they oozed quality by continually stretching the Cobblers' on the break. Fast, crisp passing and movement left our lads chasing a few evening shadows and it wasn't long before Wolves were leading 2-0 through Ebanks-Blake and a Milijas free kick. (I thought he was the best player on the pitch by a long way. Never seemed to get out of second gear and stroked the ball around majestically all night).

Half time and the Cobblers trail, but we have played with great style at times and done ourselves proud. (Half time joke - "Colonel Gaddafi has been spotted going to Eastlands for a medical - well everyone else has so why not"). (Made me smile). (It don't take much).

Interval entertainment was provided by a selection of fans trying to kick a football into the boot of a car. All failed. Highlight of this event was watching the Wolves substitutes, who had been having a kick-about behind the competition, eager to take a turn and show everyone how it's done. All failed.

Second half continued in much the same fashion as the first half. We did a lot of running, put in a lot of effort and Wolves broke quickly and scored two more goals. We were outclassed on the evening but I don't believe we were necessarily out played. We played some nice football and created quite a few chances, (If we ever take all the chances we are creating we will murder someone one afternoon this season. However the one frustration that keeps coming to the fore is that nobody seems to want the responsibility of shooting. The old adage of "If you don't buy a ticket, you won't win" is springing to mind. Shoot man, shoot!!!)

A very enjoyable evening and a game where as much as it would have been nice to win, it didn't bother me that we didn't. There are plenty of good signs that this Cobbler's team can play football. It's down to the nitty gritty now of stopping them at one end and scoring at the other. Wolves fielded a decent team and we should hold our heads high that we were able to give them a decent game. The scoreline flattered them on the evening but that's the difference between taking your chances or not.

Couple of footnotes to the evening: Fantastic banter between "Bayo" and the Wolves' fans as they, very originally turned the Northampton chant of "Bayo, Bayo, Bayo," into "Whale, Whale, Whale!" This coupled with the ringing chant from the away end of "You're just a fat Eddie Murphy!" was acknowledged by Bayo with a huge grin and a wave to the fans - I think he liked that one! (They also applauded him off when he was substituted again acknowledged by our hero with a wave!)

My Cobblers man of the match was tight call for me tonight. Good performances across the park from Lewis Young, Ashley Corker, Paul Turnbull, Jake Robinson and "Bayo" were driven from the back by Byron Webster who looked the part this evening from start to finish. A man of his size and presence should dominate more games and against a lively Wolves attack he more than held his own. Good show from Byron which just edged it tonight.

It's back to the bread and butter of League Two football now as this must be our priority for the season. Cup runs are nice but we're hardly likely to win the Carling Cup or the FA Cup are we? Big game next against Morecambe. This will be half way to Gary Johnson's self set target of "Judge me after ten games." Well no doubt he will be judged as football is a results business, but, with a few wins in the next few matches our current position should look a whole lot healthier. I personally have faith in our manager. The side are playing half decent football and look as if they are beginning to gel as a unit. We just need to score more goals - easy isn't it.

Come On Cobblers...Come On!!!