A Stroll At The Recreation Ground (vs Aldershot L2)

Hello all -

Before I get on with the match report, two quick things.

Firstly, apologies for the non-appearance of the blog for a few weeks (since Crawley away in fact). I didn't go to Morecambe (too far for me) and Christmas meant I missed the other two away matches anyway, since I was in darkest Cornwall. So my first-hand Yellows viewing has been the home matches against Cheltenham (a bloody awful display), Northampton (there's a reason why they are bottom) and Crawley (which on reflection afterwards I felt was a point earned, not two points dropped - as I felt straight after the whistle!). So sorry for the break in service, things sould get more back to normal now the festive season has gone.

Speaking of which, a belated Happy New Year to you all.

And on to the match! One I was really looking forward to, since my last away trip had been so long ago. Also we had put that horrible November well and truly behind us, with this being the start of a series of (on paper) 'easier' matches. Of course, that kind of thinking leads to disaster - but looking on the positive side, January should allow us to gain some ground on the teams above us.

So after dropping my daughter at Milton Keynes station on her way back to university, I headed down the M1, round the M25 and down the M3. Not too bad a journey, and I got to the glittering metropolis of Aldershot in very good time. Not quite in good enough time to get a space in the car park next to the ground though, so I ended up in a town centre multistory. Never mind, the walk would get rid of a couple of mince pies worth of Christmas excess.

Those who have visited Aldershot before will remember the trek it is to get to the away supporters area. You walk past the ground, turn left, walk up the North face of the Eiger, turn left again, go though a wooded area, then down again until you get to the turnstiles. Pay, enter and eventually you end up about 50 yards from where you started. Anyway, that's a whole box of Cadbury's Celebrations accounted for.

The ground itself has three sides, like ours, with one of the areas behind the goal the 'fence end', like ours. Unlike Grenoble Road (as my new year's resolution says I will be naming it from now on), it is umm. Either 'homely, historic and heritage' or 'a dilapidated, depressing dump', depending on your viewpoint. The major saving grace is of course the fact that the stand behind the goal is shared between the away support and the more lively home fans. That leads to a good atmosphere. I've rattled on about the Aldershot drum before, probably more than once. I didn't like it then and I don't like it now. Sometimes it seems to go on instead of singing rather than to accompany it.

As well as the left hand side of the stand, the away supporters get a bit of open terrace down one side (and some seats for those who eant to sit of course). This area does have the advantage of not having any of the supporting posts in the stand that tend to obscure the view, but of course you lose the atmosphere and get wet when it rains as it is uncovered.

I had arranged to meet YellowHoods at the game (he managed to manfully stave off the dreaded man-flu that he'd been incubating). After a bit of mobile phoning and arm waving (Cooee, I'm over here!), we hit a snag. He was in the open terrace I was in the covered one. I walked over to meet him, to find out that he'd got a grey ticket (he could only go in the open terrace), I had a purple one (only valid for the stand). After talking to the stewards (who had obviously been asked this about ten milion times before) off went Hoodsy to swap his grey ticket for a purple one and we took our place behind the goal. With atmosphere and posts. Except that broadcasting a managers last post match interview over the PA was really naff. That's what pop music is for - the cheesier the better!

The team was announced, with Pittman taking Craddock's place (no surprise there) and Heslop coming back in for Asa Hall. So - Clarke, the normal back four, Whing playing the 'McLaren' role of stopper in front of the defence, Constable with Alfie and JPP up front. The toss was made and Oxford were attacking the goal in front of us.

Aldershot started quite well and had an early shot (no real worries though). But we got into the game and started to push them back. A beautiful volleyed cross from the left by Peter "He does what he wants" Leven was met by the head of JPP and blimey we were one up in the first few minutes. Half the stand went loopy, the other half went quiet. From that moment the result was very rarely in doubt. We almost went two up when Constable smacked a shot that was saved (or bounced off!) the keeper very nearly straight to JPP with the goal gaping. Another foot taller and he might have made it, but it looped away to safety. Alfie was looking tricky, but his end product is I swear getting worse. I'm not talking about shooting (although I don't think he had a shot), but there never seemed to be a pass at the end of the run. But nonetheless, his sheer tenacity and ability with the ball was dragging the Shots defence all over the place. JPP was looking very speedy, and almost got through a couple of times.

The Aldershot goalie's kicking was terrible. He shanked (or was it hooked? I'm not a golfer) two goal kicks straight out of play, causing amusement the second time by stamping about like a two-year having a tantrum. His teammates were trying their best, but were no real match for the men in yellow. They did have a header that they could have made count, but it sailed over the bar.

After about half an hour, Heslop let one fly and the Shots keeper got a hand on it to keep the score to one. But that man Leven took the resulting corner, JPP was in the right place and sent it goalwards only to see a defender get in the way The ball bounced back to Duberry, who showed amazing ball control, trapping it, knocking it up in the air and them completing a bicycle kick that ACTUALLY BURST THE NET! I'm lying. It hit him and bobbled off various body parts before trundling over the line. But judging by his reaction and that of the Oxford faithful, it could just as well have been the first version! Two up, half an hour gone, totally in control.

The old cliche is that a two goal lead is a dangerous one. Really? More dangerous than 1-0? Not sure I get it. But anyway, we decided to make sure it wasn't going to be a worry. The Shots keeper made a decent save from Constable but Leven had provided two and he turned scorer just before half time. Pittman turned provider this time and Leven slotted the shot into the corner. There wasn't even time to restart.

So half time and three-nil up. It's not many times you see that way from home. It had been a great display from the Oxford team. I spent most of half time nattering to YellowHoods. On the pitch there was a hit the crossbar competition that seemed to feature an Oxford fan, the Shots mascot (who was having trouble seeing out of his 'head') and a bloke dressed as a green condom, or a runner bean or an alien or something. Probably for a good cause, so we all clapped anyway.

The second half was never going to match up to the first. And it didn't. Aldershot came out all guns misfiring, we looked dangerous occasionally but were content with the afternoons work. Clarke made a couple of decent saves, but they were the sort you'd expect him to. Hall (Asa, not Robbie) came on for Heslop, Smalley and Craddock replaced JPP and Beano. Smalley hit the bar. Aldershot had a couple of free kicks that either cannoned into the wall or sailed over the bar by yards.

The ref (who had made a good, unfussy job of refereeing a very clean game) blew and we gave the Oxford team an ovation.

Back to the multistory (I remembered which floor I'd parked on, which is a miracle in itself!) and back round the motorways of southern England and home.

My thoughts for the day:

Every Oxford player had a good game, but I'd pick out Leven for being involved in all three goals, Pittman for looking like the best new signing we haven't made, Doobs for being so bloody enthusiastic and downright likeable (as well as excellent!) and the much improved Andy Whing for being a rock in front of the defence.

I love being an Oxford fan at away matches. We are loud, good-humoured and supportive. You only had to look at how JPP was reacting to his new song at the end of the match. You 924 others - I salute you all!

The Aldershot fans are also a decent, noisy lot. BUT. That "let's pretend we scored a goal" thing - never ever do it at home. Ouch.

Thanks to YellowHoods, enjoyed the chat throughout the game very much. Hope to do it again soon.

We are back in the playoff places. Two home matches next (Crewe and Hereford) offer a good chance to push even further up!

Christmas was fun, winning away is probably better.

See you next time and COME ON YOU YELLOWS!