So 2nd round day bought some proper football weather freezing temperatures greeted me on the morning of departure. Again due to the craziness of work I was really late organising tickets so late I hadn’t realised that the game was on Sunday cue some hilarity as I asked repeatedly for tickets for Saturdays game, much to the amusement of the ticket office. The club were excellent talking me through parking arrangements and where to collect tickets etc.
So match day and an early start was required a because frankly it’s A bloody long way to Exeter and B Sunday’s mean a 2pm kick off. So with JJ medicated and in his car seat I knew i was guaranteed some piece and quiet. We had a relatively uneventful journey and came into Exeter with plenty of time. A stop at a big Sainsbury’s for a bathroom break as I had way to many drinks on the way down before we went to find some parking near to the ground.
On the Blue badge we were able to park within a 5 min walk of the ground. Residents parking around the ground allows for blue badge parking which is really helpful. We wandered down to the ground and collected our tickets from the main ticket office outside the ground. Turning 180degrees. We discovered a burger van. We were both starving. So I went for a sausage bap and chips. Whilst the sausage was not all that well distributed the food was great, well unless you’re JJ who immediately turned his nose up. So the back up soup and a roll was cracked to keep him happy.
We were in the new stand. Which was lovely. In exploring to dispose of our rubbish we discovered the new stand had a changing places as well as regular disabled toilet. Now I’ll hold my hands up here I forgot the radar key that morning so I can’t comment on them but the staff did have a key if required and were really helpful when I enquired about it.
The game itself was a cracker. Though I knew the game would be enjoyable when 5 mins before kick off the 120 or so travel fans kicked off the singing, along with a super loud drummer. JJ was smitten immediately as he clapped and danced to the beat. The 1st half was all the home side which given the gap in league positions you would expect. By half time it was 2-0 to Exeter and you felt the tie was going to be a routine home win.
The beginning of the 2nd half bought one of my favourite moments as the away started taunting 2-0 up and you still can’t sing. Both hilarious and true. The silence became deathly as Hartlepool pulled a goal back and then to much horror amongst the home fans an equaliser arrived. The game ebbed and flowed but there would be no winner. Disappointment for JJ and I as I knew the replay would be out of the question. Still it was a thoroughly enjoyable game and a lovely day out.
On Monday night I sat and watched the draw and to my amazement. The winners would play one of the two football league teams nearest to us. So early Jan would see a trip to The Kassam and game with Oxford United.
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