AWAY THE GAS – COLCHESTER UNITED
BY DARREN STOBBS
Ahead of the fairly long trip to Colchester I, like many Rovers fans, was very optimistic about our chances of returning home with all three points.
When a side is on a great run of form, as we were going into this game, meant that there was a great deal of confidence amongst our fanbase, and I’m sure that was also the case for the players and management team.
We left The Mem just after 8.00am and had a decent trip to the East, stopping at South Mimms services for 45 mins, before arriving at Colchester for 12:20pm.
A couple of weeks ago the landlord of ‘The Half Butt Inn’, one mile from the ground, informed the Supporters Club that we were most welcome to call in. I also noticed the appropriately named ‘The Rovers Tye’ pub, just over two miles from the ground, so this might be a visit for another fixture!
However, Colchester were themselves most welcoming and allowed our supporters into their fanzone. Being at the ground this was the easy option. It also had an outdoor large TV showing the live football and had bench seating on offer.
Just inside was the bar and food outlets, along with some limited seating. They also had a table set up for their own Supporters Club, taking coach bookings for furure fixtures. I was surprised at the fairly steep prices for a beer. At £7.00 a pint, you could say they were London prices, with the capital being not far away! It’s the most I have paid at a league ground so far. It has to be noted that lager was much cheaper at £5.30p if that was your preferred drink.
On entering the ground, the usual fayre of football ground food was on offer. I am not a great fan of the usual ‘Pukka Pies’ but, feeling hungry, I had to sample one! It was the hottest pie I have ever acquired, and I was barely able to keep hold of it, as we climbed up the steps to the steep stand behind the goal.
There was a decent turnout of Rovers fans, which was later confirmed as being 629, while the overall attendance for the match was 5,050.
On to the match, and it turned out to be a frustrating game, especially in the second half, but the draw was about a fair result.
Colchester looked the more dangerous side going forward throughout the match, with some very quick and forward thinking players.
However, we took the lead when a very good cross ball by Alfie Chang was met by Fabrizio Cavegn who’s first touch was superb before he finished with a strong shot from inside the box. It reminded me of the type of goal Jamie Cureton used to score for us.
We failed to take the game to them to increase our lead and Luke Southwood had to make a couple of decent saves for Rovers.
In the second half Colchester scored a deserved equaliser when a low cross was turned in from close range.
I was surprised to see Cavegn leave the field early in the second half, although this could well of been down to managing his current game time. Luke Thomas was also substituted with over 10 minutes left, and that
gave Colchester a bit more freedom to push on for a winner, but we stood firm in defence to hold on for a point and keep the unbeaten run intact.
Thomas was my own man of the match; he really is having a fantastic start to the season. Those travelling on the Supporters Club coach voted for Southwood. The comment which was repeated by many Rovers fans was; ‘We’ll take a point from this!’
We left Colchester at 5:10pm, although it took nearly 30 minutes to get out the car park and on to the A12. After a quick 15 minute stop at Reading we arrived back at The Mem for 9.00pm.
One idea introduced to the coach this season, for the longer journeys, is a quiz.
This was the second one so far and it was very challenging (well for the most of us anyway!).
Martin was the organiser of this particular quiz and I thought it was certainly a challenge, although give credit where it’s due, we have some brainy people on our coach; there you go, some people might be surprised to hear that!
