Kidderminster 1/09/07
Lost 4-0

(It wasn't that bad!)

Attendance: 1860

Strange things always happen at Kidderminster. During the pre-match warm up for our first Conference meeting w cheered the referee, Mark Halsey. Throughout the game he we showed us an example of how Conference matches can actually be refereed properly. Last season saw us come face to face with our arch nemesis Amy Raynor whilst Lee Elam came face to face with Mark Yates. It's ironic then that this seasons meeting was Yates' first back after the resulting touchline ban which, for reasons best known to the F.A, still allowed him to lead Kidderminster out at Wembley.

This season we were saddened to find that unlike last season, we weren't allowed in the posh 'home' side of the Kidderminster social club. In there last season Marge had expressed a disliking to a bird in a glass dome which Mark attempted to steal for her. As she put it back on the shelf he shouted out "Thief!" The barmaid was not impressed and neither was Marge who got Mark back by hitting him 5 times in 27 seconds.

With Mark present on this seasons trip inevitably the bird was disturbed. A temporary loan from the posh side allowed Marge to scream obscenities and hit Mark again. Not content with the brief bird loan, Mark went to the bar to negotiate a fee for it. After a 10 minute discussion by the bar staff they decided we could have it for free. In the resulting calm Colonel could be overheard saying how the drinkers were "having a nice little drink". However, given the number of empty glasses on their table, to say they had a "little" drink would be like saying the final score was "tight".

And so to the game. It is fair to say that City ran out of steam, a fitting analogy given the Steam Railway next door. Despite not playing badly we were 2-0 down by half time. With Scott "He's 6 ft 9, he's gunna catch it every time" Bevan in goal we had little chance. In going for the great comeback we were 4-0 down with just over 25 minutes to go. At this point it was still feasible to get back in it and the optimistic supporters were shouting "5-4". However time ticked on and it just wasn't to be. As 3 minutes of injury time were announced, my shouts of "Come on City, 5 goals in 3 minutes" could be classed at best optimistic, and at worst deluded!

Jubby was a man on the edge on the way home. When he mistakenly thought Marge was taking his whole box of jaffa cakes he shouted out "only 1, only 1". The look of horror on his face implied that it's best not to come between Jubby and his beloved jaffa cakes. Marge then refused the bird, believing that we'd stolen it. Despite this, unknown to Marge at the time, we hid it in her coolbag. Oh to have been a fly on the wall when she found it. The air would have turned the colour of our away kit without doubt! As we neared Exeter we witnessed a police chase as a speeding driver refused to pull over. Despite not stopping, the driver did have the courtesy to indicate as he left the motorway with the police car in hot pursuit!

With out defeat at Kidderminster our unbeaten record came to an abrupt end but of course, there is a long way to go yet. We may not have got the 3 points but with the successfully negotiated free transfer of the Kidderminster bird we ensured the Grecians didn't come home empty handed!