This fella shares the same kind of out look on the game as me. I hate the grind out result mentality, play the game its meant to be played. Nice write up of the play off matches, if you can bare reading about it.
http://thegroundhog.wordpress.com/2006/11/24/millenium-stadium/After Swindon and Hartlepool settled for a draw on the last day of the season, thus ousting out poor Port Vale from the top 6, we were to play Swindon in the semi-final. As we’d finished higher we were away first leg. I immediately applied for a ticket but was then pressured to sell it by my wife who said it was too much for her to cope alone with the littl’uns while I was away at Swindon and maybe Cardiff. It was a fair point so I reluctantly sold the ticket on North Stand Chat to a very happy Albion fan from Bristol.
It was live on TV so I’d get to watch it anyway. My excitement had started to come back the nearer we got to the Sunday of the game. My disillusionment at the Albion was starting to wane as 3 o’clock approached. By twenty past three however it had returned with a vengeance. We were rubbish again. We didn’t look like conceding but neither did we look like scoring either. I was so glad I’d sold my ticket. Watching us made me squirm. I felt sorry for Swindon; they were obviously the better team and were approaching the game positively, and with passion. We were just their to spoil their day and get a 0-0.
Midway through the second half, and against the run of play, Carpenter had a rare Albion shot from the edge of the area which ricocheted off a defender and flew into the top corner of the net. The fans behind the goal went mad; Swindon were shocked; I was shocked. We’d done it yet again – we were going to win another game 1-0 despite being awful. I was excited now, but only because of the thought of the Millennium Stadium. Hopefully I’d get to tick it off with a genuine Albion visit!
I saw the second leg on TV too. Again, it was dire. Swindon were the better team; again. Swindon were the more positive; again. When they scored very late on to equalise the tie I was pleased for them. When they went 2-0 up in extra time I was again pleased. Slightly disappointed that I wouldn’t get to see the Millennium Stadium but almost relieved at the money I’d save. So in the 120th minute of the game, the 210th minute of the tie, I sat with a resigned smile thinking well done Swindon when a throw in down the left was headed on to the edge of the box where Adam Virgo flung his body at the ball, connected with his head and the ball bounced past the outstretched keeper and into the net. It was pure Roy of the Rovers stuff and despite my floundering support I still almost banged my head on the ceiling jumping up from the sofa.
It was penalties next. Under any other circumstances I’d bet against Brighton at penalties but this night I knew we’d win the shoot-out. Swindon’s psyche just couldn’t recover from that 120th minute blow and it didn’t as we fired home 5 uncharacteristically brilliant penalties to book our place at the Millennium.
