Slogging it out on a wet night

FC United 1-0 Lancaster City (after extra time)
FA Trophy 2nd Round Replay; attendance 798

Sometimes you sit in your seat at a football match and wonder what am I doing here? Not a game I expected to go to. But after reading about 3-3 draw up in Lancaster on Saturday last I sought of felt maybe some support would help. Photo above is of some SV Austria Salzburg supporters recording their visit. That club was founded by supporters when their old club was taken over by Red Bull who promptly changed the colours of the team to look like a soft drink can.

FC United made hard work of it. Lancaster had a man sent off after only 12 minutes, but it wasn't until the second half you'd have noticed they were only had nine out field players. Felt surely a goal would come but shot after shot over the bar. Even with four minutes of added time I was dreading being at the ground until 2230h with a penalty shoot out.

Throughout the match kept up to date with events in Lyon and the Liverpool match. Could have watched the Tv they have in the amenity area behind the stand but internet on your phone gives you the scores. Top tip - always have the sites that provide scores as bookmarks for your browser.

Anyway extra time, and Ben Deegan managed to get his head to the ball and it actually managed to get in the net. Why couldn't he have done this in the 94 minutes of normal time. I'd be half way home. So through to the next round and a home tie against Harrogate Town from the higher Blue Square North league.

Interesting points : Lancaster City brought along a coach load of supporters who did a bit of chanting and singing. All credit to the Lancaster team who played a good game. Ben Deegan the goal scorer came on as a substitute and wearing gloves. FC fans gave him a bit of stick for being a soft bastard, and a chant of take your mitts off for the lads followed.

Admission £7.50, programme £1.50, cup of tea £1.70 (awful, never again), confectionary 65p, tram ticket £2.90, bus fare £1.50.

Eventually got home at 2340h needing a drink. Got stuck into the Ripasso Valpolicella which I'd been saving for such a miserable wet evening - it's like supping sunshine at 13.5%. Even got to inspect the new improved tram stations in Piccadilly. Not by choice but through having to make a change for the Bury line. Ticket machines that can do four other languages including Polish, and take credit cards. The network has moved into the present century.

Weather: Showers, more showers making the pitch slippy. Temperature 7 degrees. Thoroughly dark drab night.