TUESDAY APRIL 9
Llangefni Town 1 Gwalchmai 0
I AM taking a birdwatching break on Anglesey with my mates from Naturebites and notice that Llangefni Town are at home on the evening of my arrival: perfect!
Recently, Llangefni were hobnobbing with the elite in the Welsh Premier but are now the whipping boys of the Lock Stock Welsh Alliance.
This is a goal-whoring mission: Llangefni have let in 87 already this season! I arrive at the ground, Cae Bob Parry, very early. As I doze, a few players arrive and congregate near the entrance. With less than an hour before kick-off, they all pile into a minibus and disappear out of the car park in a plume of exhaust smoke!
Have I got this wrong? Are they now playing away? Should I follow them? While I am panicking, more players arrive and tell me the earlier lot were the reserves.
Another Hopper beats me to the first programme (£1). It seems he isn't actually watching a game tonight, just collecting a programme from the three local matches and then going home. Odd! I pay £3 to the friendly lady on the gate and am told the refreshments bar will be open ‘soon'.
The clubhouse is deserted and remains so right up until kick-off. I know a few Hoppers who would have emptied the pumps and fridges given this sort of opportunity! Apparently, CCTV cameras are in ‘continious [sic] use'. I wonder what that means?!
I make several circuits of the stadium to pass the time. There is cover on all sides; the roof behind the far goal quirkily covering a grass ‘terrace'. My burger and chips appear at last. The lady – the same one who was on the gate – is very apologetic about the wait. No worries; it is delicious!
I do not get my goalfest. ‘Gefni put up a totally unexpected spirited performance and match Gwalchmai ball for ball. The odds on Llangefni keeping a clean sheet are 120/1 but not only do they achieve that, they manage to net one themselves to bag only their eighth point of the current campaign. I feel robbed and thrilled in equal measure!
sad.hopper@ntlworld.com (Now on Facebook)
