11 April 2011
11 April 2011
All the talk amongst the home support at the Wisbech Town v Leiston game on the Tuesday evening, was the forthcoming King's Lynn v St.Neots fixture on the following Saturday. I cut my footballing teeth with the "Fenmen", not missing a game, home or away, during the late 60's and early 70's, and King's Lynn were always the main rivals. In fact their name is mud with the Wisbech faithful. Now, as many of you reading this will be aware, our dear old, club, Deeping Rangers have not rubbed along too well with the "Dumplings" this season, for one reason or another, and your Rambling Ranger has also had the odd run in, or two with KLTFC. This fixture of theirs against St.Neots did, of course, have an awful lot riding on it. In fact the result would have a huge bearing on the UCL Championship for this season.
So, bearing all this in mind, I hold my hands up - guilty as charged - me and the boy set our route toward Norfolk on Saturday rather than Northamptonshire where our brave boys were taking on Raunds Town. We both travelled, tight lipped, willing and praying that St.Neots would emerge triumphant. KLTFC had already been dumped out of both the League Cup and FA Vase, the latter after some terrible crowd scenes that reminded some onlookers of the dark days of the 1970's. So if they lost this game, chances were they would end up winning nothing. Not that I'm bitter or anything!! Having said that, they still have a Norfolk Senior Cup Final against Dereham Town to play.
It was a lovely day, unlike the welcome we received at the turnstile. A large crowd being anticipated, segregation had been deployed, therefore the 'caveman' at the gate said, "You from Sneets?" I decided, that for this occasion, yes we would be from "Sneets". "Round the other side", he grunted. We walked round, 'the other side' of the ground to be met by a pack of surly and downright unfriendly staff and security. I asked a question about wether there had been any seats made available to visiting fans, to be answered by a "NO" delivered with all the finallity of a full stop. So what would happen if an elderly supporter, or a heavily pregnant woman, or a small child had come with St.Neots? Like the rest of us they would have been expected to stand for over two hours in strong, early summer sunlight. Great!
For some reason which we were not privy to, the kick-off was then delayed for fifteen minutes. No apology - no reason. Tannoy man delivered the news without a care in the world.
At last, and after much anticipation, the game finally started. And, to be quite honest, it was clear after just a quarter of an hour, or so, which way it was going to go. For the biggest game of their season the "Dumplings" froze and St.Neots ran all over and round them. By the mid-way point of the first half St.Neots had run up a two goal lead, including a penalty and a "Dumpling" being sent off. Oh how we laughed!!
We laughed even louder early in the second half when our ex star Dan Jacobs made it 3-0. Just what was Lynn's pink shirted keeper thinking as the ball sailed past his right side? By now the language coming from the home supporters closest to us was enough to provoke a policeman standing nearby to bellow to them to shut up. The response? "Oive paid muy muney, I'll say wot I loike!"
The "Dumplings" got two goals back, but Dan scored a fourth for "Sneets" and it was game over. In fact season over for KLTFC. It was hard to belive that this match had been part of the dear old UCL programme. 1,445 was the attendance and that must have included at least 100 police, security and stewards. Oh well, good luck to "Sneets" and a lovely, big, cuddly welcome back to Outgang Road next season for KLTFC.!!!! C'MON YOU RANGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!