FAO Bruce.......

[American FLEET FAN No1]

...AKA Northumbergull..........You must be feeling sick right now, but your players, and fans, added to a great match, and should be applauded!

Best of luck for next season, and look forward to your comments on this forum!

[Northumbergull]

American Fleet Fan No.1 and every Fleet fan!

 

Well, you're right, I'm pretty gutted. It's hard to say which was the worst of our two defeats this week, losing to our deadly rivals in the only match of significance we've ever had outside of league matches (e.g. we've never played them in a cup competition) or yesterday.

 

The saving grace of yesterday was that it was a great occasion for both clubs, fans and players alike. Although we messed up your Mexican wave, sorry about that, I encountered nothing but good sportsmanship throughout the whole day. Both before and after the game I shook hands with a number of Fleet fans and had some good craic in a bar afterwards. I'd started the day by running into some of your gang in two different service stations on the MI as I drove down the 6 hours from Northumberland. Some were old timers and the others were MyFCers. They were as amazed to see a group of Gulls fans coming from up north as we were to see them!

 

As for the game, well, you took your chance well. It could have ended up 4-3 (to you) as we both had a hatful of opportunities. Our best was Benyons' free header about halfway through the second half (easier for me to see as I was behind the goal). As they say. it was easier to score than miss, but he blew it. No use me going on about other chances, it'd be all ifs and buts.

 

Re the penalty, we were all staggered at why our goalie felt the need to bring your guy down, he was going nowhere. But, for a keeper who was second choice on the day, his save was as good as I've ever seen from the spot. He more than made up for his clanger with that and other saves and was not at fault for the goal.

 

So, all in all, 12 hours of driving later and with an empty wallet, I can still say well done to your club. Your players never stopped wanting to score. Your fans were excellent. Even the weather played it's part - I was there in Bermuda shorts and flip-flops (typical Westcountry boy!)! It'll be a day none of you will ever forget. As for me, I missed out on our victory against Blackpool in (?)1993 and have now seen us lose 3 at Wembley times, aaaargh! C'est la vie, c'est le football, eh?!

 

Good luck for next season. I'll, no doubt, pop onto the board as our two matches approach.

 

Cheers. and well done again!

 

Bruce a.k.a. Northumbergull

 

 

 

[Riverview Supporter]

Were you the guy who had the Inflatable Banana. It was whne I saw that I realised we were in a final.

[Northumbergull]

Riverview

 

No inflatables for me this visit, I'm afraid. I was the one waving the Swedish flag (it's yellow & blue, of course) behind the goal.

 

Mind, I saw one of your guys drssed AS a banana, being flanked by sundry other superheroes! LOL!

 

It WAS a day for the madcap, that's for sure, all adding to the occasion.

 

Cheers

 

Bruce a.k.a. Northumbergull

[Graham S]

You were by far the better side for the 1st 20 minutes & that's when you really should have scored & got us chasing the game. We seemed hesitant & to be having difficulty keeping our feet - some of us were even wondering if we'd got it wrong with the studs. As it was, you didn't take advantage & that can be fatal with John Akinde on the pitch; he created the goal out what looked like a nothing situation, chasing down your guy by the corner flag & forcing him into losing the ball, when many other forwards would just have given the ball up as lost. Funnily enough, the saved penalty, which is often the turning point in favour of the side which has prevented the goal just seemed to spur us on into wresting away the initiative. The missed header aside (I'm bloody glad it was Benyon & not Sills who met the cross) I don't recall feeling much panic in the 2nd half - though that might have been something to do with the calming effects of 4 pints of very cheeky Exmoor Gold in the Metropolitan on the way up.

 

To see your side lose 3 times at Wembley & still be philosophical takes some doing. I really hope your next visit ends in success (as long as it's not against us!)

 

Best wishes

 

Graham S

[Northumbergull]

Graham

 

I've edited my post, yes, it WAS Benyon, not Sills. As you say, Sills might have had the experience not to try and place it, but just hammer it home!

 

You're right, also, in saying our best patch was that first 20 minutes. After that, we never really matched you.

 

See you next season!

 

Bruce a.k.a. Northumbergull

[Darter]

Well, as an Exonian it was doubly sweet for me - but I had some great laughs with Torquay fans at the hotel and everyone was very friendly. Hard luck Northumbergull - well played, anyway.

[kaizen]

Yes, just like to add my commiserations too...just a shame there has to be a loser really (but I'm glad it was you!), but it was a good day out and all credit to both sets of fans for making it so enjoyable.

 

Good luck for getting into the league next year - hopefully you can finish runners up to us! Look forward to seeing more posts from you.