On Saturday we set out at 7am, drove to Salisbury, caught the 8.38 to Exeter. The next train to Plymouth was cancelled so we headed to the Great Western pub outside the station, always one of the best pubs to visit in the country.
We eventually caught the 11.26 to Plymouth and arrived just before 12.30. We headed to the Barbican area and had a few more beers (Fareham Martin was sinking the 8% cider - mad fool!). We caught a taxi to the ground about 20 to three and arrived in plenty of time for kick off.
The ground is so so different to our last visit. 3 sides are brand new, all seated, and luckily for us now covered. It just the old stand to the left of the away end that remains from before and the only terracing left.
The 800+ Albion fans were in good voice as were the Plymouth fans, although they did have the usual amount of meat heads (I just hope that Fatty on the terrace got very wet)
We lined up
The game was fairly even, then the comedy of errors started
Goal 1
A great 35 yard strike by the Plymouth centre back over a keeper not concentrating on the edge of his box. Sadly for the Plymouth defender it was into his own net.
Goal 2
After a great save by Roberts, in swings a corner, Roberts is in no mans land claiming a foul, a Plymouth player has a free header at the back post after Henderson was caught ball watching
Goal 3
Corner, scramble, Albion player flat out on the floor, chaos, confusion, but somehow Butters has put the ball in the net
Goal 4
A quality goal. Chippy moved the ball out of defence, spots Henderson free with a superb through ball. Henderson looks up and puts a ball in at ground level to Knight who strokes the ball home for 3-1 with just 17 minutes left
Goal 5
Plymouth put over a cross that is over the head of Cullip and then Stonebridge is in front of Butters and heads powerfully in for 2-3 with 7 minutes left
Goal 6
A scramble again, but Roberts has the ball, now he hasn't and now its 3-3 in the 89th minute
Nearly Goal 7
Brighton attack, but the Plymouth lad dives on the floor and gets a free kick. It was taken quickly and Hodges starts a long run from the edge of his area. He reaches about 20 yards from our goal unchallenged and smashes in a shot, past the outstretched arm of Roberts, but luckily hits the post and bounces away to safety.
One goal for each side was well worked, the other 4 were down to poor defending. I think a draw was a fair result, although Plymouth hit the woodwork on 3 occasions.
The atmosphere was great, and the Albion support superb as ever. It was a good exciting game but being 3-1 up with just 17 minutes left have to feel it was 2 points dropped.
After the game is was a nice stroll across the park (decided to give the Car park a miss this year) and we were soon out the park but lost. We asked an older gent the direction to the station and he gave a couple of us a lift back!!!!!
We caught the 5.40 to Exeter, spent a couple of hours in the Imperial and Jolly Porter before heading back to Salisbury. We dropped a mate of in Bosham and arrived back into Durrington about 12.30.
Ratings
Roberts - 5 (mixed bag of great saves but was he at fault for goals 1 and
3?)
Hinshelwood - 5
Cullip - 4 (was he fit?)
Butters - 4
Mayo - 5
Hart - 5
Harding - 5
Carpenter - 6
Oatway - 6
Knight - 5
Henderson -7
I don't think we used any of the subs (Pethick, Wilkinson, McPhee, Piercy, Flitney (new on loan keeper))
Referee 1/10 a very poor performance all round and why he didn't send of the Plymouth bloke for pulling Henderson back was beyond me.
Mark R
PS loved the song
He shot
He scored
He's only 5 foot 4
Leon Knight
Leon Knight
We eventually caught the 11.26 to Plymouth and arrived just before 12.30. We headed to the Barbican area and had a few more beers (Fareham Martin was sinking the 8% cider - mad fool!). We caught a taxi to the ground about 20 to three and arrived in plenty of time for kick off.
The ground is so so different to our last visit. 3 sides are brand new, all seated, and luckily for us now covered. It just the old stand to the left of the away end that remains from before and the only terracing left.
The 800+ Albion fans were in good voice as were the Plymouth fans, although they did have the usual amount of meat heads (I just hope that Fatty on the terrace got very wet)
We lined up
Roberts
Hinshelwood Cullip Butters Mayo
Hart Carpenter Oatway Harding
Knight Henderson
Hinshelwood Cullip Butters Mayo
Hart Carpenter Oatway Harding
Knight Henderson
The game was fairly even, then the comedy of errors started
Goal 1
A great 35 yard strike by the Plymouth centre back over a keeper not concentrating on the edge of his box. Sadly for the Plymouth defender it was into his own net.
Goal 2
After a great save by Roberts, in swings a corner, Roberts is in no mans land claiming a foul, a Plymouth player has a free header at the back post after Henderson was caught ball watching
Goal 3
Corner, scramble, Albion player flat out on the floor, chaos, confusion, but somehow Butters has put the ball in the net
Goal 4
A quality goal. Chippy moved the ball out of defence, spots Henderson free with a superb through ball. Henderson looks up and puts a ball in at ground level to Knight who strokes the ball home for 3-1 with just 17 minutes left
Goal 5
Plymouth put over a cross that is over the head of Cullip and then Stonebridge is in front of Butters and heads powerfully in for 2-3 with 7 minutes left
Goal 6
A scramble again, but Roberts has the ball, now he hasn't and now its 3-3 in the 89th minute
Nearly Goal 7
Brighton attack, but the Plymouth lad dives on the floor and gets a free kick. It was taken quickly and Hodges starts a long run from the edge of his area. He reaches about 20 yards from our goal unchallenged and smashes in a shot, past the outstretched arm of Roberts, but luckily hits the post and bounces away to safety.
One goal for each side was well worked, the other 4 were down to poor defending. I think a draw was a fair result, although Plymouth hit the woodwork on 3 occasions.
The atmosphere was great, and the Albion support superb as ever. It was a good exciting game but being 3-1 up with just 17 minutes left have to feel it was 2 points dropped.
After the game is was a nice stroll across the park (decided to give the Car park a miss this year) and we were soon out the park but lost. We asked an older gent the direction to the station and he gave a couple of us a lift back!!!!!
We caught the 5.40 to Exeter, spent a couple of hours in the Imperial and Jolly Porter before heading back to Salisbury. We dropped a mate of in Bosham and arrived back into Durrington about 12.30.
Ratings
Roberts - 5 (mixed bag of great saves but was he at fault for goals 1 and
3?)
Hinshelwood - 5
Cullip - 4 (was he fit?)
Butters - 4
Mayo - 5
Hart - 5
Harding - 5
Carpenter - 6
Oatway - 6
Knight - 5
Henderson -7
I don't think we used any of the subs (Pethick, Wilkinson, McPhee, Piercy, Flitney (new on loan keeper))
Referee 1/10 a very poor performance all round and why he didn't send of the Plymouth bloke for pulling Henderson back was beyond me.
Mark R
PS loved the song
He shot
He scored
He's only 5 foot 4
Leon Knight
Leon Knight