In my tennis blog, this would be called game, set and match. Hereford are champions and thoroughly deserved ones at that. Fact!
Living down in London this was obviously a no-brainer for me, especially as I work a few stops away from Kings Cross station with the direct train running every thirty minutes. As they say, it would be rude not too.
A couple of Westons ciders for the trip and a chat about old times with my mate put us in a nice relaxed mood on the way to this small market town, where the police were blatantly waiting for the arrival of the large band of travelling away fans. We decided that a £7 taxi to the Carlsberg Stadium was the value or it might just have been the fact we wanted another pint quicker. Party time!
It is always nice to have a bar inside the ground and as usual, we weren’t the only Hereford fans to think so. The prematch chanting was on point as usual and there was an air of supreme confidence about it.
This was another stadium that had no segregation, always perfect for wild celebrations behind the goal. The home staff were pleased to see us and were pretty laid back, which is a bonus as long as you don’t take the piss and we didn’t. The attendance was 740 and I would guess there were about 600/650 travelling fans.
As most teams have done, Biggleswade came out with the attitude of trying to shut us out and it was up to us to break them down. The deadlock was broken after Myrie-Williams was bought down after turning his defender, peno Hereford. Purdie stepped up and calmly chipped it down the centre, showing his experience once again which has been one of many vital factors in the run in. The news of him retiring at the end of the season is a bit emosh as they say. In truth, we created a few more chances in the first half but not a load, possession-wise we were in total control though.
The second half followed a similar pattern and there was only one team that looked like adding to the goals tally. It didn’t materialise but it was comfortable (coming from me, who usually gives that negative football fan vibe, to not jinx it). Did it matter? Not in the slightest, it was another solid performance as a unit and the hard work had already been done. We played out the final minutes with ease and the celebrations could commence. Three championships in three years, no mean feat as we all know. Any other result here would have been harsh and would have put a slight downer on the situation but as I say that never looked likely.
We can now all look forward to party time at home to Kettering on Saturday, this will not be an easy game (the fact they lie third in the table and could finish second after beating Weymouth this week) but the pressure will be off and so will the shackles. It should be a fantastic atmosphere and one that I am looking forward to even more now, in what will be a sell out crowd. The trophy ( which is massive by the way) presentation and the lap of honour should be a time we all savour. Let’s hope we can get three more points to bring the curtain down on a top season at Edgar Street. Buzzing!
I will hopefully make the trip to Hitchin, if it ever actually gets played, with rain forecast next week I’m not holding my breath! Anyway, all I can say is,
ON OUR WAAAAYYYYYYYYYY…….ON OUR WAY.
Al Davies
The Gubbage and the Glory! 