You all look the same - Norwich Away Match Report

Thanks to SBJ for the scene setting below. Mascots and Aviva Divas were indeed a sight to behold.

A quick match report. G2, SBJ and myself were in attendance, and Grandpa performed admirably to transport us into the wilds of East Anglia, particularly after an early game of chicken with a London bus. We arrived early. Too early for the ticket office, who weren't open for another hour. We retired for lunch to the "Milton Keynes" riverside area of Norwich about 5 minutes away. I should add that this description isn't mine, but is provided by Mr Steve Stiles (Telegraph Fantasy Football Controller) who has spent many of his formative years in the City, and claims the Canaries as one of his two teams. Two teams, I agree, is wrong but he is unmoved and unshaken by his split loyalties. Anyway, I digress.

We opted for the best restaurant in Milton Keynes-on-the-Yare, as it had been pay day recently, and luckily Old Orleans wasn't fully booked. We fancied treating ourselves, so after a cider/WKD skyblue/peroni aperitif, we opted for the Premier page of the winelist, and bought a top priced Chablis 1er Cru. A fine wine, for a fine establishment, and a bargain at £20. We ate, it was edible, and we then went to the ground.

Not a bad away following, best part of 800 or so, in a decent sized crowd of over 24,000. While I may have issues with the carparks being full of tractors on match days, you have to respect their loyalty, particularly when their team is totally lacking in style, confidence and points.

2-1 was the bet of choice before the game, with first goalscorer doubles covered with Ward, the Gurner and Fox. Could we pay for the whole trip with a good result?

After the Divas performed, quite well considering their obvious lack of practice since their rebranding, the game kicked off. In a nutshell, Inda Carlisle had a moment of magic and cut the ball back for Bigfoot to score, before vanishing into a predictable routine of receiving the ball and refusing to move forwards at all. Not many chances in the first half, but we went in a goal up. SBJ was advised by the stewards, who were friendly I thought throughout, that his camera would be confiscated if he was spotted taking photos during the actual gameplay itself. While it wasn't obvious who would be confiscating it if they spotted it, the camera disappeared into G2's smaller handbag, where it nestled comfortably with the spare shoes, occasional table and picnic chairs for four.

Second half kicked off and we were awful for the first ten minutes. Vivienne flapped at a high ball, and they spanked in an equaliser. Annoying, but the boys just hadn't started at all, so it wasn't undeserved. Then after an hour, the Fox took a corner, it went over the far side, and then ended up at the corner of the box from whence it had come. Fox dummied Oh Lord out of the way, beat Carlton Pole three times, then pinged a curler off the far post. A peach of a goal, and a worthy match winner.

Despite about 3 handball appeals against various defenders, they couldn't get past Vivienne, and More Reasons landed a toe-poke on top of the bar in injury time. A 2-1 win was secured, and some of the bets dropped in. Not the 2-1 with Fox, as it was a first goalscorer not a last goalscorer double, but it was tantalisingly close.

On the way out we managed to get caught up in some sort of tractor rally, and spent an hour going nowhere, but it gave us time to reflect on the plight of the Canaries, who look destined to be playing Leeds next year.

The Blades at home on Wednesday, before the big one on Saturday. Wembers still beckons on more than one front, it's going to be a good 3 months.