WE convene early: the M25 has been misbehaving recently, so plenty of time is allowed for the drive down to Godalming Town of the Calor League South & West.
The Fox is driving and there's also Pencilman and Aged P for company. True to form, it is a 30-mile, 30mph crawl to Surrey and when the traffic does eventually clear progress isn't helped by people using only the two outside lanes of a four lane motorway! As we near Wey Court, there are many fallen branches strewn in the verges, a legacy of the recent storms.
Despite the slow progress, I am still one of the first spectators to arrive. The car park is very tight and already full, and the narrow streets around Wey Court are resident-only parking. Fortunately, there is a public car park a few yards away.
The gateman is superfriendly and cheerful. This is matched by every club official I meet at the game. The smell of chips is wafting around the turnstile and I quickly hand over £8 and another £2 for the programme so I can get in and sample the goods.
While waiting for my burger, I notice a mug full of golf balls on the window sill. Apparently, there is a golf course adjacent to the ground and officials regularly have to retrieve wayward balls.
I suspect the golf club has to cope with flying footballs and I imagine a tense, midnight exchange of balls on the border of the two clubs (but that's probably just my weird mind running away with me again).
While I've been daydreaming, a couple of girls have set up a wonderful cake stall to raise funds for their trip to Malta next autumn. Godalming Ladies are to play the Maltese at the National Stadium! I think this is a great idea and purchase many fancies to help them on their way (I force myself, you understand).
Pitchside is accessed up a ramp or stairs, where there is a main stand and uncovered standing. There is a makeshift covered terrace behind one goal. The cool breeze stiffens as the game progresses.
This is one of those annoying games where an early goal is scored, teasing Hoppers into thinking a goalfest is about to unfold, before witnessing 86 minutes of close shaves, great saves and glaring misses to leave us wanting more.
It says everything you need to know that Jason Harvell, Wimborne's keeper, is man-of-the-match. If TV cameras had been here, they would be replaying three of his world class saves ad infinitum.
Ticket value 3, Programme 4, Food 3, Bar 3, Toilets 1.5, Atmosphere 3, Match 3, Overall: 4
