Cod Almighty | Diary

I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading

11 March 2024

Miss Guest Diary writes: At least we didn't lose – that’s the most positive thing I can muster to say about Saturday's game at Sutton. Apart from that, the pitch was dreadful, the football was dire and the officiating was diabolical.

And the week had been going so well. A much-needed win against Forest Green the previous Saturday, a hard-fought draw against Wimbledon on Tuesday and, taking advantage of already being two thirds of the way there, three days in a charming cottage in Hampshire. This gave me the opportunity to indulge my other passion – classic literature – with a visit to Jane Austen's House in Chawton. Unlike Saturday's game, it did not disappoint. As well as a fascinating insight into the world of my favourite author, it provided an opportunity to indulge in the traditional holiday pastime of buying overpriced and useless souvenirs.

Saturday started off well too with a convivial lunch at a café bar in Sutton with Cod Almighty's Irish contingent. Alas, that's where the fun ended.

When that penalty was awarded on Saturday I looked around me and saw many a Town fan having what I like to call their Fjortoft moment. In the 30 years since that happened I have lost count of the mini-breaks and days out which have been ruined by incidents at Town games; some the fault of poor play by Town and others due to poor refereeing. Saturday simply felt like business as usual so I did not feel much anger, just frustration and disappointment.

I don't really want to put any blame on the players, who all worked very hard in very poor conditions, but...but...had just one more of the nine shots on target been converted into a goal during the previous 87 minutes then the penalty would have been nothing more than an irritating blip. Regrettably, getting that second goal is something Town have struggled with all season.

Now it's on to Tuesday and a home game against the team who shall not be named by anyone at Cod Almighty Towers. They have won three of their last four games, but there's no real point in looking at the form book in a division where Harrogate can go to league leaders Stockport and get a draw but 10 days later lose 9-2 at Mansfield; where Walsall can put six past Town, win five games in a row but can't score against Forest Green.

Town still have 11 games to play and as long as the team try their absolute best to win every one, then we as fans should have nothing to complain about (apart from the refereeing, of course).

UTM