Costa Blanca to GOSBTS

England U21 3 v Switzerland U21 1

Monday 16 November 2015

American Express Community Stadium, Brighton

Twitter @ball_sup

Alicante Beer Wrap Up

Firstly, last knockings in Alicante. Twelve Spanish micro ticks in the end.

We tried La Taberna De Tito. Very much an ideas above its station restaurant on a square. We were tempted because of a half decent bottle list.

Wrong foot. We've been asked to move to another table. Even though we're the only customers. Yeah, it filled up later. But, we were still there when everyone else had fucked off.

Alma Mediterranea, Serra Gelada from a bottle at 4.8%. Light. Blonde. Some orange peel. Refreshing. Got a slight bitter kick coming through.

Spigha, Gurugu from a bottle at 5.8%. Fair play to the fella. It's poured flat as a fart. Making you think, “how old is that one”. Difficult to tell as he's peeled the sell by date bit of the label off before he's brought it over.

Not too bad. A good bit of malty nuttiness in there. I'm not sure if the coffee is added. I'm guessing it is. But, it's not overpowering.

Back in Malatesta. El Cantero, Whisky In The Jar on keg at a numbing 8%. That is a very intriguing beer. Very well balanced. At first it seems sweet. But, some sherbet sharpness kicks in. Before a second go rush of sweetness. Candied fruit. But, I'm not sure where the balancing flavours come from. I'm a Hophead. That's IPA level hop bittering ain't it? Against the sweetness. Maybe? Or, is it toasted malt? Or some barrel. Got me. Great beer.

Galana, No. 9 Negra from a bottle at 5%. Bit of liquorice. But, nothing much recovers after that. Bizarrely, got that thin cucumber taste going on. Maybe it's the water. Pleasant enough. Put it in the Blog. But, don't write home about it.

Brighton Drink

As luck would have it. My flight was back to Gatwick. And England U21 have a qualifier in Brighton. I've done the Goldstone Ground back in the day. And The Withdean “Stadium” during the wilderness years. My Division Three club have never played here. So, it's a new ground for me.

I walked over for a drink in The Swan Inn, Falmer. Nice place. Three rooms. Four handpulls it looked like. The bar lady checked two pints pulled before mine. I think she was worried they were cloudy. And, she asked me what mine was like & whether I was enjoying it. Good Skills.

The Long Man, Copper Hop on cask at 4.2%. Superb pint. Pours copper. Bit of washing up liquid in the head. But, it clings to the glass. More tangy upfront bitterness than I expected. Some spiciness in there as well.

Some Football

I thought that was a bit of justice at the Death. The game had been fairly normal for U21. Players staying on their feet. Ref letting things run. One of the Swiss fellas had been sniping at the Ref. But, it all got feisty late on.

Nonsense. Swiss fella got clattered. Nothing ridic. But stayed down. Ref can stop it if he fancies. England get on with it (a goal down). Eventually a Swiss fella puts it out for a throw. Basically all 10 go Lally of the Doo variety. Presumably, they feel England should have put it out. Mêlée. Handbags. Ref & both linos in the thick.

When that is dusted, England take the throw normally & press on. Don't help the Swiss mood any. Anyway, all semblance of Swiss discipline gone. They concede 3 in the “last 7 minutes”. If they'd stayed switched on, they might have hung on.

Mugged Off.

239/482