Play off
spot?
Wimbledon 0 Burnley 2, Tuesday 10 April 2001
Report by Hego
Having decided to take the afternoon off to
partake of one or two sherbets before the game, we entered the meeting pub in Thornton
Heath there to be met by the surreal image of one Barry Kilby supping a pint. Thought at
first I had partaken of one too many, but having administered the obligatory reality
check, realised it was indeed he. Firmo and company had picked up said stray traveller at
Victoria station, and deposited him in this venerable hostelry. Given this piece of
incredibly positive chi, and also that the away end at Selhurst Park faces in roughly the
correct direction (more positives) we couldn’t possibly lose!
It’s just a little bit weird wandering up
to a Wimbledon game at Selhurst, virtually on your own, as you think you have got the
wrong date or time for the game! Only 6,000 in the ground and a good 1,000 of those were
Clarets. The away support never ceases to amaze me, particularly at the end of a season in
SE London with the Easter games approaching. Fantastic. The wife works with a fanatic
Womble supporter who was equally amazed at the Claret turnout, which was on a par with the
Birmingham support on the previous Saturday afternoon. Most of the stands in this quite
large ground were unoccupied, giving the place a very strange, oddly quiet feel. Much like
a holiday in the Dwarf Nebula.
Having moaned about the state of the pitch at
the Turf recently, it was amazing but not surprising to find that the Selhurst pitch was
even worse! The Clarets lined up in a 3-5-2 formation without Cox and Thomas, but with the
reborn West starting again! The Wombles had all manner of Premier League salaried chaps
around including Michael Hughes and Ardley, a £1.5 million defender no less, but no Jason
Euell, which was good news. The B*****d fan Ainsworth was on the bench, awaiting a
particularly special welcome in the second half.
Having managed to get to the ground in time for
the kick off for a change, unbelievably things began to happen straight away. The Wombles'
new Danish striker almost scored from the start with a chip from the edge of the box,
which just cleared NTG and the bar. Two minutes later Weller broke free down the right
following an interchange with West, before crossing to the back post for Taylor to head
powerfully in to the corner of the net. The massed ranks of the great and good applauded
this achievement in their usual demure fashion.
Minutes later, Nielsen crossed for Cooper to
volley his shot in to the ground, and strangely bounce over the bar, before Little chipped
a good chance at the other end, just wide. After 17 minutes Wombles had a penalty claim
turned down, quite correctly, when Neilsen turned Davis only to fall over his own feet. It
was then the Clarets' turn to respond again, when a quick throw-in found Moore in space,
but his shot was comfortably saved by Kelvin Davis. NTG was then called in to action, when
he blocked a volleyed effort by Ardley. End to end stuff. Taylor had another headed chance
well saved after a great move involving Ball, Weller and Moore.
The best was yet to come, however, as half time
approached. The Weller/Little combine worked the ball down the right hand side, before
pulling the ball back from the byline to an onrushing Ball, sensing number two of the
season. Davis made a superb save before Moore swept in the rebound as the defence
floundered. More applause.
The one good thing about an empty ground of
course is the opportunity to partake of an ablution in some comfort, which was necessary
and appreciated. Sustenance was somewhat problematic, as when I got there the cupboard was
bare. No pies, hot dogs which have seen better days, and Bovril with the consistency of
tar. It beats me how we can ever moan about the facilities at the Turf. Also realised that
having borrowed Pauline’s pad for notes, I couldn’t read the scribble. Quick
rewrite!
The second half began with Briscoe for Armstrong
and Ball moving into the back line, ready to defend the lead with gusto. We were about to
grind out the result with the implacability of a tectonic plate. But no, wrong script. The
Wombles obviously had a good deal of possession over the second half, with Hughes
prompting, but apart from a late-ish 20 yard effort from Ageymang (try writing that, never
mind saying it after a few pints), there was nothing to worry the Clarets. We also played
our part with some pretty neat passing moves, and both Moore and Taylor had good chances
to put the result beyond doubt, as did Paul Cook with a stinging 25 yarder, again well
saved.
My favourite pieces of play in the half involved
the two keepers. NTG’s imperious and disdainful one handed catch from Agey‘s
back header was worth the admission money alone. Close to the end with the Clarets in
cruise control Williams played a long back pass to his substitute keeper, aiming for a
huge punt upfield. The pitch played its part, Heald missed, but then recovered just in
time to stop 3-0.
A pretty sort of convincing performance really,
which even junior Hego said was good. Other results on the night went for us, and number
six spot suddenly looks a little close for comfort. Stan reckons 74 points would do it,
which just looks a little bit too far away. What we would have given for just the odd
point at Grimsby, Crewe, Sheffield and Portsmouth. Who would have thought it after our
recent joust with the b*****ds? Well done Fulham, by the way, ha, ha, ha.
Team (3-5-2):
Michopoulos, West, The Legend, Armstrong (Briscoe 46), Little (Payton 90), Weller, Ball,
Cook, Smith, Taylor, Moore (Mullin 82). Subs not used: Crichton and Maylett.
Scorers: Taylor
(3), Moore (45).
Crowd: 6,132!
Referee: J
Brandwood of somewhere.
Hego's Man of the
Match: All of 'em.
London Clarets Man
of the Match: Glen Little.
The home game
