Match 2 - Soham Town Rangers v Biggleswade United

So I'll confess, I'm not a natural writer and having been super busy with work and holidays have already let this blog slide a little. So catching up on our preliminary tie at Soham now

I knew we would have a similar length journey ahead of us, so had planned on another 11am departure. We were however heading out on holiday that day and so even though I harassed and harangued my wife from 7am that morning we were a little later then planned departing, I knew we were going to be pressed for time and had the added joy of JJ's 6 month old brother along for the ride.

I was worried, we pulled into Beaconsfield services again for a lunch bring for the kids, I was hoping for a quick turn around and no crisis. The stop worked perfectly with every one fed and watered we rolled out as we pulled through the car park I looked at our ETA. 3pm arrival not much wiggle room there.

A couple of accidents were relatively well steered around by the sat nav and we were looking good, until the dufus driving missed a turn off, thankfully that wasn't to costly and due to traffic clearing we made the ground at 2.50. After unloading and saying goodbye to my wife and the youngster, JJ and I made the gate as the teams took to the field. Confusion ensued as I tried to rush through the turnstile not pointing out that the wheelchair user I was bringing was actually a child.

Phew we were in just as the game kicked off. Wow it was hot that day, so I was most grateful to look down the line and see the main stand was raised and enclosed, absolute result when it was 30 degrees. I parked the wheelchair and oxygen in shade behind the dugouts and climbed the stairs carrying JJ. Its worth noting there would have been very little cover had I been unable to take JJ up the stairs to the stand.

Just like 2 weeks ago the weather played havoc with the game, both teams could not be faulted for effort but the heat was sapping. Soham Town scored a couple of relatively quick 1st half goals and quickly took control of the match. As the 1st half drew to a close we wandered down with the rest of the crowd to the clubhouse for some light refreshments. An amble sized bar allowed for relatively quick service and a projector screen displayed the half times from around the ground which brought added cheer as Forest were 1 up as well.

With the heat still unbearable the second half passed with little incident, Biggleswade tried manfully to find a way back into the game without really creating too much in the way of chances and I think the majority of the players were delighted when the ref finally called time on the game, Soham had truimphed 2-0.

We headed back to the clubhouse and investigated the disabled facilities, there was a radar door to the toilet which was more then big enough to accommodate a good sized wheelchair, with all the usual rails and the like. We swept out the door afterwards and headed back into Soham to collect the rest of the clan. Turns out my wife had been unable to find much in the way of a high street so had entertained child no 2 in the local park which happened to be well shaded.

Due to my inability to get this out earlier we now know that we will be heading to Soham again to watch then take on Witton United.