Behind Closed Doors

Watford U23 2 v Sheffield United U23 2

Friday 7 October 2016

U23 Professional Development League 2, North

Played at Vicarage Road

Twitter @ball_sup

Lots of turbulence for the Carrier Bag Firm on this one. Even as we were on the train to the 2pm kick off, SUFC put the preview on the website. All about “the game tonight” & headlining it as a 7pm kick off. The game had originally appeared as a 7pm kick off. Is/was still listed as that on the SUFC website. But, was listed as 2pm in the Premier League Bulletin & on the Watford Web. All par for the course for the CBF.

We pitched up about half one. Stewards at the top of the road. Check. United team bus parked up. Check. Shouting from the players on the pitch warming up. Check. Good job we came for two o’clock.

Not the half of it though. Each steward asked “are you parents?” or “are you scouts?”. When we got to the final fella, the death knell. “Sorry the game is behind closed doors”.

Now to the uninitiated, that doesn't mean what it says. Parents will get in. Scouts will get in. Friends of friends will get in. Watford Super Fans known to the fella on the gate will get in. Upshot, people will get in.

We blagged it with the straightforward “you need to help us out, we've come from Sheffield for this game” method. It needed a phonecall & some other nonsense. But, fair play to Watford in the end.

Last year, “My lad is Terry Kennedy” would have come out. Sorry Tel.

WallaceWatch

I've said before. I feel for the bloke. He's not tossing it off. When he goes deep into games, he’s usually the most comfortable out there. Sure, he looks a little overweight. Sure, he struggles a bit getting around after some exertion. But, it's the injury niggles which are killing him. Anyway. He's done 12 minutes on my watch before Harvey Gilmour subbed for him.

A good game. A few spikey exchanges on the touchline between Watford U23 coach Harry Kewell & Binnion. Here's something you might not know. The best deliverer of a corner or wide free kick at the club. Step forward Jordan Hallam. Who you gonna call?

He whipped a cross in for the 2-2 equaliser. A defender flicked it on. But, Callum Simple was still able to stoop at the back stick and nod it home.

Before that, a neat everyone keep their head goal. Cross from Ben Whiteman. Calm header back across goal from Wright The Younger. Hallam virtually on the line to nudge it home. That made it 1-1. Jake now sporting a black Jostein Flo support on his left wrist.

So, the Carrier Bag Firm needed a little celebration drink to calm down from the “behind closed doors” turbulence.

The Sportsman at Croxley Green. In the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. Nice place. Busy for half four. Maybe six on cask. Aylesbury Brewing Co, Atoll at 4.6%. Darker than I expected. But full of hop flavour.

The Pennsylvanian ('spoons) in Rickmansworth. Windsor & Eton, Treason, West Coast IPA, from a can at 5.8%.

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