Rain all day

It’s been a pretty miserable day here. Gloomy, grey skies and plenty of rain. We’ve managed almost 75mm over the past few days: a good start to the winter season as far as the dams are concerned. It’ll be interesting to see how we’re doing on water levels after this weekend.

The fire has been burning since early, and I’m tucked up in front of it watching the other FA Cup semi final, and wondering about what might have been.

It wasn’t the end of the world yesterday, and we gave a good account of ourselves against literally world-class opposition, but I’m disappointed that we didn’t get at least a goal.

Still, onward and upward, if only to put another log into the fireplace.

Good morning, Blades.

A lovely evening yesterday. Not the most exciting of cup ties. Not the giant-killing that the press were hoping for us to be involved in this season, but just a quietly assured performance, despite injuries and illness.

And this guy, working his magic and dancing through a helpless Tottenham defence.

A lovely confidence boost and a reminder of what we can do to a big club by applying ourselves: te passion, a lot of hard work and some properly vocal support.

Day 290, part 2 – Powerless

We were without power for the first 11½ hours of the day thanks to a fault and I had to manually grind my coffee beans for the first two cups of the day and it was all just sheer hell on earth.

The power came back on just in time for the beers to get cold again ahead of this afternoon’s FA Cup football. Which I can now also watch.

Talking of which, did you see this first win of the season? Lovely.

 

Otherwise, you well?

 

 

Yeah, I mean, I was being sarcastic about the hell on earth thing, obviously. 

Day 227 – What a game

I’m watching Manchester City v Liverpool at the moment. Two pathetically soft penalties so far, and it’s only half time. Neither of them should have been given (as with the one in the Leicester v Wolves game earlier), and it’s all becoming a bit silly now. I slipped on the wet garage floor earlier, and I was immediately given two penalties by overly concerned referees.

Ridiculous. We don’t need this nonsense.

I didn’t see the FA Cup game between Torquay United and Crawley Town earlier, because for some reason, they didn’t show it here. But I wish I had.

2-0 to the home team at half time, and they’re cruising into the second round like a footballing knife through round one butter. And with 8 minutes left, they’re still two up and the man with the etching tool might well have been putting their name on the trophy already, for once Torquay sweep Crawley aside, they’ll surely go all the way and hold that famous trophy aloft… but wait…

Crawley get one back.

And then, in the 90th minute (which admittedly did last 19 minutes), they only go and equalise.

The crowd, who weren’t even there, go wild. But not for long, because 18 minutes into that 19 minutes added because of attempted (and failed) repairs to the Crawley goalkeeper, Torquay United score again to seal the tie 3-2. But wait…

Crawley get another one back, 21 minutes into the 19 minutes of stoppage time.

I know, right?

It’s 3-3. And the referee, deciding that 22 minutes of the added 19 minutes on 90 minutes signals that we’ll have 30 minutes of extra time. Incredible.

A quiet 12 minutes ensues, before Torquay restore their advantage for the [checks notes] third time. And then, as if to add insult to insult, the Devon Masters score again, hammering home their advantage to make it 5-3 with just 12 minutes to play.

And that’s how it finished. If you are only counting the Torquay goals, that is.

A minute later, Crawley hit back. It’s 5-4 and there’s all the time in the world left (especially given the plethora of last minute goals in normal time). Mr Engraver shrugs a little, but then gets back to work with his Dremel multitool.

Silly boy.

7 minutes left: it’s 5-5! Incredible. Amazing.

It only remains for someone to end this madness before it goes to penalties and finishes with an obviously fake, scarcely believable scoreline like 5-6 or something.

Step forward Ashley Nadesan, who, with 90 seconds remaining, pops the ball into the net for the Sussex giantkillers. And it’s a obviously fake, scarcely believable 5-6.

I didn’t see the FA Cup game between Torquay United and Crawley Town earlier, because for some reason, they didn’t show it here. But I wish I had.