Finally: The Finale.

There’s really only one way to start this one: final match of the season: Bristol City, run away champions (and the team that spoiled our Wembley party!) at their home ground. Was I too slow to get tickets sorted out (that would be unusual), not really bothered or happy not to be there As it turned out definitely the latter!

There was whole match commentary on BBC WM. I made do with listening to that. Sounded as if we were playing well. Certainly when we went one nil up (Jordy Hiwula). Pulled back to one all, then two one down, but at half time back level: another Jordy Hiwula goal. I am – pleasantly surprised, this is something I didn’t, truly expect. But I am prepared, in the way I suppose all fans will be, to accept the fantastic change in form and focus that has us toe-to-toe with the runaway (and deservedly so) champions of our league. At the ir ground!

I make up reasons: we have been playing markedly better recently haven’t we? And, maybe Bristol City are just going through the jolly old motions: it is the last game of the season and they can’t be too concerned, maybe they’re just enjoying the afternoon eh?

Abso- blinking – lutely not! Because after half time we collapse: utter, abject and terrifyingly … what? Frustrating? Yes! Embarrassing? Yes! Both and more.

O.K., O.K. champions in a different class and all that, but 8 – 2?

Wolves fan on Facebook posting

“Notice the cricket’s started early in Bristol then?”

I’m thinking

“Well, if you can’t stand a joke you shouldn’t have bought another season ticket!” and smiling, a little grimly to myself.

The Football league has apparently come up with a new deal that will have games (not Premiership ones) on Channel Five. Seems it’ll mean lower league clubs get more money. Heard something about the Football Association also getting money which might mean genuine grass-roots football gets a bit more cash – and much needed too. Kicking a ball about is simple, good exercise at the very least. It gets more complicated when tribal loyalties are flexed, but that’s not always bad.

Of course as the football season comes to a close we are into the cricket season beginning.

Elsewhere – and, honestly I delayed posting this until there was something else I could more happily put out there – there is a new Royal Princess: Charlotte, born to Kate and William, who bless ‘em have done so much to re-popularise the monarchy and bring it up to date. Best wishes to the family. On a more mercenary level it will do a lot to bring money into the country: the whole souvenir and tourist business set to be boosted. My wife and I have booked a close season (I hope, but know it’s cutting it fine) tour of Buckingham palace and the Houses of parliament.

Speaking of which, the latest political news is that the Conservative party have won an outright majority in our general elections (so much for my prediction powers then) and Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage, leaders respectively of labour, liberal Democrats and United Kingdom Independence Party have all resigned. North of the border the Scottish Nationalist Party have won all but three seats in the House of Commons. Exciting times ahead perhaps, even if only in the sense of that Chinese (“May you live in interesting times,”) curse.

Back if ever so briefly to football: Coventry City and Crewe escaped relegation to League Two and Shrewsbury and Burton Albion are being promoted: fairly accessible local games to travel to next season (already the optimism is appearing!).

Wolves fan on Facebook posting (about the Bristol result):

“Notice the cricket’s started early in Bristol then?”

I’m thinking

“Well, if you can’t stand a joke you shouldn’t have bought another season ticket!” and smiling, a little grimly to myself.

 

Reserved? Walsall Senior Cup Final.

I have never actually been to a Saddlers Reserve team game. They actually play their home fixtures at Chasetown Football Club, behind Chasewater – and not so far away.

But they managed to get to the final of the Walsall Senior Cup and the game was on Monday night … and what else would I be doing on a Monday night*?

So, expecting a small crowd (maybe a hundred or so; mainly relatives and friends) I was amazed that the match day car park was full and beyond. Entrance was limited to one gate and fans mixed in the Main Stand (where my “season ticket seat” has been his season. Indeed I found myself queueing behind a lady with a child of between two and four (at a guess) and the lady’s parents (or in-laws?). She was the spouse of one of the Chasetown players and the big pushchair had to be taken through a different gate. I wormed my way around the – surprise, surprise four-hundred-and-eighty something people and ensconced myself in “my” seat.

Reserve games are so different: smaller crowds, no chanting, and spectators can drink alcohol at the windows of the Savoy Lounge. This quite surprised me: the legislation around League games is that nobody can be observed from the pitch, or pitch-side drinking alcohol; stewards will draw the curtains or shuffle you away from the windows.

The opponents/ Ironically the aforementioned Chasetown. They have changed their manager (after looking like being relegated from the Evo-Stik league) and are playing, according to one of their friendly fans as well as ever.

When the teams come out there is an immediate difference: the Walsall players look young (they are) while the Scholars body language is solid and assertive, no-nonsense and, frankly, intimidating.

But some of our players have actually played games in the first team (James Baxendale drooped from firstteam squad had apparently volunteered for reserve team duty; Reece Flanagan, Rico Henry – an excellent fast-attacking full back, Amadou Bakayoko, and  Jordan Murphy). The game kicks off and is energetic, Chasetown playing with energy and bustle: a good, accurate passing game. Walsall’s game matches it but has some fine jinking runs from the likes of Baxendale (who, at least  can never be faulted for his enthusiasm) and henry.

Even at half time. Second half and Henry squirms away down the left and feeds a ball into the path of Jordan Murphy who, without any fuss tucks it away. That’s it then, all set for a win!

Not so. The Chasetown players, to their credit stayed on task and perhaps a little more worldly wise than the Saddlers lads began to pester the referee (who generally had a good, calm game), especially one Colin Brown. He was exceedingly persistent!

Eventually he won – and scored a penalty. Chasetown went on to score another two. So, er, that’s it then?

Again, not so. With Chasetown seeming to be either a0 running out of steam or b) trying to slow the game down, Walsall came back with a delightful goal. A splendid Rico Henry free kick was met by the head of Jordan Murphy who simply re-directed it into the net. As smooth a goal as I have seen in many a year. Then Henry himself bursting through jabbed a shot into the net.

Unsure I had to ask: straight to penalties or extra time?

Extra time. Before kick-off, feeling the cold I tried to find a cup of coffee. The kiosks were all closed: poor planning!

… and the rain came down. Looking up, seeing it against the floodlights it looked solid, like snow. And it went colder still.

Pretty even game from then on, but Bakayoko forced the ball into the net and, thanks to his rather pantomime over-celebration got yellow-carded.

Was it worth the three pounds to go? A couple of nights later (as I write this) I am glad that I did, but, shivering in my seat on the night I wasn’t nearly so sure.

Reserves win a trophy and my second cup-final of the season. Big smiles!

In the Championship once-almost-bankrupt Bournemouth (for so long the stereotypical retirement home cliché of the nation) are – if they do not lose to Charlton by twenty goals in their last match – promoted to the Premier League. Amazing and inspirational. Small teams with big hearts can do the apparently impossible.

Terrible news from Nepal is that an earthquake has caused the deaths of almost four thousand people (tourists, climbers and locals). The whole country, from the capital Kathmandu to the climbers from base camp upwards on the slopes of Mount Everest, has been affected – seriously!  Film of this and the hustings for the general Election fill the TV news and papers.

We are reacting as quickly as we can, sending aid and personnel to help the search and rescue efforts. I wonder, though idly, whether there is some way we could send our armed forces, helicopters and equipment out there: surely a realistic training exercise in what amount to battle front conditions? And it is widely recognised that our troops have levels of expertise needed for such situations … but, like I said idle speculation.

• I found out some days later that, in going to the game I had missed the second part of “safe House” on ITV. Starring Christopher Ecclestone, the first part of this was gripping and well-acted. ITV player anyone?