York 10/03/08
Lost 3-2
Attendance: 1567

by Kirstie Bowden 

I arrived for York at 7.30, cutting it fine you might say. However, the scheduling stupidity of Setanta 'oh so considerate to real supporters' Sports engendered a clash with University commitments and I was unable to make the trip to the Kit Kat Crescent. 7.30 therefore signalled the time that I downed tools for the night, collected Grecian the Lion from his cage and took my seat on the sofa for the match. Watching the pre-match waffle, Setanta kept harping on about how we were an in-form side. This was ominous, rather than reassuring. The remote control nearly got thrown at the TV when they provocatively decided to show pictures of our good friend Paul Buckle, and Plymouth Argyles top bench warmer Jamie Mackie.

And so to kick off. Within 2 seconds my Mum had announced that she couldn't take it any more. Two minutes in and I was struggling with the weirdness of watching (and shouting) at City playing live on TV for the first time. As the away end game into view I saw my brother. He hasn't missed a City league match, home or away for 4 seasons. He really is a true City supporter, one the club should be proud of. You may not know him by face, but I' m sure you'll know him by voice. He isn't exactly quiet on the terraces.

Although gutted to be missing the match, there were two specific things about York I was not missing. One was the incredibly long journey up and back, and secondly, the weird ineffable smell that seems to pervade the area. As the rain continued to fall I really felt sorry for the courageous City supporters on the open away terrace. Quite why York didn't show a bit of heart and put them under cover is beyond me. With 25 minutes gone the hardy band of City supporters were making themselves vocally known. As was I, most notably as the camera panned in on Paul Buckle at the ground and Setanta pledged allegiance to the Torquay United fan club.

Tragedy struck in the 31st minute when York took the lead. I swore never to eat a kit-kat again. Setanta continued to exude with professionalism, announcing that Steve "Batcham" was coming on and cutting to replays whenever something important was happening. City then progressed to show a similar level of professionalism, going 2-0 down to a pathetically defended goal and nearly conceding a third. Thankfully, stoppage time saw a goal for "Batcham" and a lifeline was grabbed for City.

65 minutes in and I was obviously shouting at the TV louder than I thought, when after telling the ref to "GET YOUR CARDS OUT" he did, and promptly booked 'Kelly'. Mum was getting deeply concerned, not for fear of losing, but because Tiz wasn't wearing a hat. She then scared the cat, Captain Jack, when Logie nearly scored. Shortly after it was 3-1 and game over, for Jack at least as he decided that the storm outside was better than the storm brewing inside. I was fearful of a drubbing, Mum was despondent. But then, out of nowhere, brilliant work by Ryan Harley led to a goal by Logie in the 84th minute and hope returned. Sadly this hope didn't translate into goals or points for City. Like every Grecian I was disappointed for the effect this would have on our play-off push but even more disappointed for the dedicated supporters that made the long trip up from Devon. With defeat there was to be no consolation for standing in the rain. Only a long miserable journey home awaited them.