Force Ten from Toblerone.
Date: Saturday 10th March 2012
Not your most regular attendee at home games these day, but I remarked to Bruce Rioja before the game that I couldn’t remember when I last saw us lose at the Reebok. Given our recent form it probably sounded a touch "whistling in the dark’, but the first half did have us looking slightly promising and QPR advanced into our half hardly at all. Seated just behind a corner flag in the Gene Krupa Stand we didn’t exactly have much to get excited about till the goal. Sir Joseph Barton of Knobsville managed to wind up a few of us with his insistence on proving what an obnoxious prat he is by arguing with the linesman about what exactly ball behind the line actually means. He repeated this performance several times during the game, determined to be the rebellious twelve year old he is, although it must be admitted some of his football is excellent. The linesman was in another land anyway, flagging merrily for things he obviously wasn’t anywhere near enough to see. That super villain Darren Pratley should score, and loose an absolute avalanche of joy from the fans, was more than a touch ironic after recent verbal and literary assaults on his usefulness. Who cares at a time like that? We were a goal to the good and playing reasonably. Tim Ream impressed with his coolness and good distribution and even from the other end of the field it was obvious that the ref was suffering from Kevin Davis-itis in his ignoring white shirts being bundled off the ball . The QPR goal? Both Bruce Riocha and I agree it had shaken the net on its way back via the bar into play. We were doubtless lucky, but few cared – Mark Hughes, the entire QPR squad and all their fans apart - as play carried on. Another QPR effort from the left skimmed the face of the bar on its way to oblivion, but the half ended on a buzz of anticipation. The wind was undoubtedly having some effect, markedly shown by the recycling bin men removing seven tons of paper and plastic bags from the pitch during the interval As we’ve come to expect, our composure didn’t last too long. Admittedly, we didn’t know anything about the legality of offside from our view, but their goal was given and it was back to the drawing board. True to form, we then went into minor panic mode, come a disjointed delerium tremors attack, and the defence put in a volleyball demonstration at one point reminiscent of the old headbanger dancing that used to be in a Mawdsley Street biker club years ago. Jumping into the air without looking and chest-barging each other around brought on an attack of the jitters grand style. It looked like it was just a matter of time before Zamora or Cisse left us trailing. Toblerone heading- and kicking- was much in evidence to the tune of " Welly it anywhere" . We did get a bit of a grip on things late in the second half and who could really say whether the Klasnic for Pratley sub would be fruitful? As luck would have it, it was. Latching on to a delightful through ball from Miachi, Klasnic curled the ball wide of Paddy Kenny and into the corner of the net. The Reebok roar did actually almost lift the roof and the old familiar "Eevan Campo" song rang around the ground with but a one-word change from the classic lyrics by Brandwood Street primary school and music courtesy of the Westminster Chime Clock Company. Superb stuff, repeated with gusto at the final whistle as OC and the boys acknowleged the fans. A win and three points helps a lot to avoid being too critical, but Bruce Rioja is of the firm opinon that the players should be detained in class until they can repeatedly manage to lift the ball over the first player from corners and free kicks . It might be no bad idea at all. Better, it must be said, but without the win one gets the feeling the Winter Hill winds might have had a much icier edge in the dressing room. A word for Bogdan: Looked solid and composed and is undoubtedly a good keeper. Jussi might be in for a long wait before he pulls the jersey on again. All in all, a pleasant day with a happy ending. Bit of banter going on at the train station and a couple of obviously kettled opposition fans got bounced back into their own territory by the boys and girls in blue/ lime-green, and their dog. The season starts here.
