Last game of the season and the maths were simple: if U’s win we are promoted! If we don’t win there were many permutations (too many for me to think about) that would see Salford or Notts County straight to League 1.
Big thanks to Marshalls who allow fans free parking, and plenty of space for the coaches to load and unload. Even bigger thanks to Gina who does all the arranging and makes it easy for me to be a part time coach steward.
Three full coaches left Marshalls around 9am, no traffic issues before a 45 minute stop on the M6 toll services where there were many Luton fans on their way to Bolton, where they were hoping a win would put them in the play off places.
We arrived in Crewe to be greeted by many U’s fans, and it was nice to have a beer and a pie in the outdoor fan zone.
And so the match, where over 2300 U’s fans (including Josh Coulson and John “Shaggy” Taylor) were seated on 1 side and behind the goal, and not surprisingly making all the noise. There was a small pocket of Crewe fans singing behind their goal, the massive main stand which can hold almost as many fans as the whole of the Abbey stadium was sparsely populated.
Another cut and paste for the U’s starting line up: Eastwood in goal, Watts, Jobe, Gibbons at the back, Ball, Mpanzu, Knight, Bennett, Mayor in the middle, Kaikai behind Appere at the front.
U’s started well and after some good interpassing Knight tried a curling shot which cleared the bar by a couple of feet. Soon after a free kick from the left was fisted away by the keeper for Mpanzu to shoot but the ball was blocked away. Watts managed a thigh pass early in the game!
A long throw from Mayor was half cleared, Kaikai got to the ball just inside the penalty area before being felled and the referee gave a penalty.
Against Grimsby Knight put the penalty down the middle and the keeper barely moved to boot the ball away, this time he shot hard and low to the right of the goal, but the keeper guessed correctly and got down to push the ball away for the loudest cheers from the Crewe fans.
A series of U’s corners caused scrambles in the 6 yard box, but U’s couldn’t force the ball home.
Crewe began to get into the game with some possession and pressure and made a couple of half chances and Eastwood had to block a shot then make a couple of easy saves.
Half time: 0-0. Entertainment behind the stand was Shaggy leading a chant of EveryWhere we Go!
Nevitt came on for Appere for the second half which continued as the first had ended, U’s seemed to have forgotten how to pass to each other. Not helped by the referee (who supposedly is from Peterboring and is a fan of that club!) giving Crewe a number of very dubious free kicks. One that happened in front of me was their player pulling the shirt of Bennett who fell over into their player who then fell down and got a free kick! by the end we had 3 booked which I suspect is the most in a game this season!
Crewe had a 30 yard free kick go wide, then the half continued as a stalemate.
Brophy came on for Kaikai on 72 minutes but nothing much happened until added time when a long ball almost got Brophy in on goal, the keeper clearing ball and man, but we were never going to get another penalty…and probably wouldn’t want it!
Into added time and a U’s corner was headed goalwards by Watts but the keeper made a great reaction block, the ball fell to Ball to shoot but straight at the keeper who blocked again the follow up header looped into the keepers hands. Our two best chances right at the end to calm our nerves not taken.
The final whistle went with most of the players in front of the main stand, muted celebrations as everyone was checking their phones, Salford were drawing 0-0 at Crawley, Notts County had taken the lead but were pegged back at 1-1 against Bristol Rovers (not often we want a Steve Evans side to score, and perhaps Ryan Loft helped Crawley keep a clean sheet). Then came news of draws at the final whistle of those games and we were up!
A lady steward was trying to stop U’s fans getting onto the pitch, but the tide of bodies leaping over the low fence was impossible to halt and she gave up!
After many minutes of celebration the players were able to get to the changing room and fans left the pitch, and I went back to the coach.
The was a medical emergency where apparently a Crewe fans had a problem, and when the pitch was cleared a helicopter landed on the pitch. Then came an announcement that when the helicopter had left there would be a promotion presentation on the pitch, so off the coach and into the ground again. The helicopter left and we all hope the person is OK. (Note: On Sunday I read that the gentleman had required CPR at the ground, but was now in a stable condition, and we all wish him a good recovery).
Then the presentation sequence. First Neil Harris with some very exuberant fist pumps, then the squad were presented with medals before Michael Morrison was given the trophy which was some form of engraved silver plate and it was raised in the air to great delight of all fans, players, back room staff and wonderful images for the media team.
Most of the squad had a go at showing the plate, Watts being serenaded with his “big F…ing geodie” chant. Kaikai did a dance, Mpanzu did an interesting side to side shuffle with the rest of the players copying him.
The match had ended before 5pm, it was after 6pm when the players left the pitch and fans left the ground and I got back on the coach again. Because of the late departure we couldn’t stop on the way home (something to do with the number of hours a coach driver can do in a day, he didn’t want to reach the limit before getting home!), so no chance to see any Luton fans at the services who would have seen their team win at Bolton, but be pipped to a play off place by Stevenage.
Back to Marshalls just after 9pm.
I didn’t think we played very well, maybe nerves got to the players, certainly Crewe were not going to roll over and let us win. But we made the better chances, and another missed penalty. Please can someone find a pair of “lucky” boots for Ben to wear! Hindsight is a wonderful thing, I would have let Gibbons whack to ball as hard as possible (like Stuart Pearce for England many years ago), if the keeper got in the way the power would take him and the ball into the net!
What a day, what an atmosphere. As it turned out we could have lost and still been promoted due to our superior goal difference, but that doesn’t help the heart rate of older fans like me, my Fitbit registered a peak around 5pm! I hope our owners, Paul Barry and Mark Green were there to enjoy the fun
In all the excitement it wasn’t until much later I realise Bromley had won, MK Dons drew, so congratulations to Bromley as L2 Champions on 87 points, MK second on 86 and CUFC 3rd on 82
If you were not there see the links below:
Post match reactions, celebrations highlights etc
Buy a “going up” t-shirt or mug
There is an end of season Amber News due soon which might include some sort of season review…..doesn’t the “Monk era” seem a long time ago!
Eee Eye Eee Eye Eee Eye Ooh!