Destination: Southend
Departure: 6am
Distance: Approx 200 miles
Journey time: 3hrs
Method of transport: Minibus
Cost: £10
Programme: £2
Admission: Children-£8 Students-£10 Adults-£14
Food/Drink: Burger: £2 - Coffee: 80p
It's that time of the season again, already! Town's last away game of the
season and it couldn't be more crucial. Three points were a must in order to
keep the dream alive and we knew it wouldn't be easy.
As usual, a packed minibus, departed Gay Meadow at 6am and headed for
Basildon where the supporters team were due to play a Basildon XI, a team
put together by Town exile Martin Berry. We zoomed down the M54, all a
little tired, yet excited about the afternoons match and all hoping Town
build on their last two victories.
At around 8am we pulled into a service station, somehere near Northampton,
where we all tucked into our extremely pricey breakfasts. A full English
would set you back £6.49, whereas a bacon and egg roll was a whopping £2.69!
However, it was either pay the disgusting prices or starve.
We left our service stop at around 8.20am, and the rest of the journey went
very smoothly, as we had no problems getting to Basildon despite the main
road into Essex being closed due to road works. We arrived at the venue of
our supporters match, at 9.45am with the game getting under way just short
of 11'o'clcok. It was an interesting affair as we ran out comfortable 5-1
winners.
We now had to make the last stretch of our journey, the short 10 mile trip
into the heart of Southend, where we arrived at 1.45pm. It was a case of,
off the minibus and into the pub. The boozer was full of singing Town fans
who were also probably skint too, having to pay £2.25 per pint. Typical
southern prices !
I entered the large away end at 2.25pm which was already occupied by a large
number of travelling Salopians. Again, I blagged my way in as a kid, it was
the start of what was to be a superb afternoon. The game kicked off and Town
attacked the goal that the strong 500+ travelling army, were situated
behind. The atmosphere was electric! We never stopped cheering the lads on and after 22 minutes it paid off when Ian Woan blasted us into a one goal lead.
However, after 28 minutes disaster struck as hot shot Luke Rodgers was given
his marching orders but again we proved to be stronger with 10 men, and not
for the first time this season.
Second half, Southend enjoyed plenty of posession but never caused any major
threats. Then on 67 minutes Ryan Lowe made sure of the points, slotting home
past the advancing keeper to send Town fans wild! The chants were roof
lifting as fans danced on their seats and clearly enjoyed their day out. The
final whistle blew and was greeted with sheer delight, more so when the news
filtered through that both Scunny and Rushden had lost, meaning that we had
moved into that glorious spot! It was the first time that Town had recorded
three straight wins this season and it couldn't have come at a more critical
point.
We left Southend at 6.15pm and made our way to Waltham Cross where we got
very, very drunk before heading back to Shropshire at 10pm. The journey
home was buzzing! Singing, laughing and yes you've guessed it more drinking!
We finally got home, 19 hours after leaving! A very tiring day had come to
an end, a day I wouldn't have missed for the world. Now three points next
Saturday, at a sell out Meadow, against a Luton side with nothing left to
play for, will gurantee us a play off place that we've wanted all season.
Lets cheer the lads on all the way to Cardiff. COME ON YOU BLUES!!!!!!