One Game at a Time
Season Finale
Back in the saddle for the season finale, how appropriate that the League One title should be decided in a final day shoot out, as the EFL decided that this particular Coronation would take place at High Noon.
Riding out of the Wild West, not so much the 3.10 from Yuma as the 3 AM from Truro came Schueys sharpshooters, needing only to match Ipswich Towns dead-eye dicks who themselves had a hard ride up to Deadwood, sorry..Fleetwood. The one-horse badge riding into the one-horse town.
Town were missing their enforcer, but would no Morsy mean no mercy? Argyle were missing Waine for the showdown, but would they simply circle the wagons. Would the Magnificent Devon, backed by a possee of supporters that stretched back as far as the eye could see ride into their own Vale of Dearth and see out the James Wilson derby?
Three minutes in and greenhorn Green Mumba was caught on his heels by a superb through ball to Plant, who as you might expect, planted the ball in the Argyle net. One nil down…plus ca change.
Over in Deadwood, nothing much was stirring the crowd, apart from the Vale Park smoke signals that told Town they were in the driving seat. Little were they to know, that was as good as it got.
Time for some True Grit. First, a loose clearance landed at the feet of Randell who slotted the equaliser. Mere minutes later and Mumba carved open the Vale defence and his opposite wing back, Sheriff Joe, arrived to plunder his third goal in a month to give Argyle a lead that they never looked likely to relinquish.
Ipswich, despite the uphill task stuck to their guns. A Ladapo opener was swiftly cancelled out by the aptly much travelled Marriott, who then plundered a second from the Hole in Wall Gang of the Town defence. Despite Harness grabbing an ironically deflected equaliser, the news from Vale Park was everything Town had dreaded.
A swift break from Wright, whose pass, despite being fouled, was inch perfect for Finn Azaz, who rifled the ball home. Argyle finished the season as they began it, with one of their Young Guns scoring the last goal of a triumphant season. Just has he had scored the first one to begin it. A come from behind win yet again. Relentless doesn’t begin to cover it.
The score lines remained the same until both matches end, and Ipswich fans perhaps regretted their pre match promises of a hundred goals and points. In the end only one side broke into three figures, which left their predictions looking as ill-advised as General Custer’s surveying of the Little Big Horn and telling his men, “Ok guys, this looks like a nice place to camp.”
In great scenes at Vale Park, where the townsfolk generously allowed the visiting fans to enjoy the celebrations their 101 points deserved, it was the Loan Arrangers, with the Green Army going Tonto who were able to receive their deserved Championship trophy.
A case of Hi Ho Silverware and away. To the Championship as Champions. And beyond??
Elsewhere, spare a thought for Sheffield Wednesday, whose ninety-six points was just enough to scrape third place. History was to give them some reprieve as at time of writing they had clawed back an unlikely four goal deficit against a Posh team whose place in the play-offs was only made possible by the Wednesday last day victory over Derby.
Barnsley, having gone off the boil at the end of the season had just too much for Bolton who missed the Wembley trip they really wanted. South Yorkshire will be emptying this Bank Holiday weekend.
At the other end, it was a farewell to Morecambe, Accrington and, perhaps the most satisfying schadenfreude of all, MK Bombed, who having missed out in last seasons play offs, after ending our season with the drubbing to end all drubbings, literally collapsed in the last two weeks of this season, to find themselves once again anticipating the Dons Derby with the real Wimbledon.
Of course, it never actually ends. Retained lists, farewells to Danny Mayor and Connor Grant whose left-wing partnership would have warmed the cockles of Michael Foots heart and who leave us better than they found us with grateful thanks. Players who were being cheered to the rafters as Champions now pondering their futures with contract offers burning a hole in their pockets, whilst their agents work the phones to see if there might be something better on the horizon.
New players will be arriving. New heroes to cheer. New rivalries to resume after too long an absence from the Championship table. And Ipswich, still hard on our heels.
It has been a joy to write OGAAT this season, in part because of the way that season developed, but also because of the warm comments and feedback received from so many of you. I am given to understand our chairman has been known to enjoy OGAAT. If so, and he is reading this, he might want to look away now.
Simon and Jane Hallett arrived in our midst without any fanfare, brought in by James Brent, the man that saved our club at the behest of the hard work of fans who could not imagine our city without its football club.
From joining the board to then assuming control our chairman has made tough calls, set a clear course for building a sustainable Championship club, invested in infrastructure and the staffing backbone that supports the ambitions of the playing side, and introduced a level of transparency that puts every other club in the league structure to shame.
There is not a single element of the club today that does not show the effect of his measured and considered assessment. He is for me the best thing to happen to this club in my lifetime since Paul Mariners debut, and it is a measure of the man that he would probably put that event above his own contribution as well.
Whatever next season holds, and we will be hoping for the best but accepting of the potential for the worst, I for one will be forever grateful that his and Janes stewardship of the club have given us back our pride and enjoyment in watching our club, playing great football, and managed by one of the most genuine, honest, talented and straightforward coaches we have ever had.
Until August then, OGAAT will take that long overdue break. I’ll be back for the sequel.
The Magnificent Devon Ride Again!
COYG!!!!!
Season Finale
Back in the saddle for the season finale, how appropriate that the League One title should be decided in a final day shoot out, as the EFL decided that this particular Coronation would take place at High Noon.
Riding out of the Wild West, not so much the 3.10 from Yuma as the 3 AM from Truro came Schueys sharpshooters, needing only to match Ipswich Towns dead-eye dicks who themselves had a hard ride up to Deadwood, sorry..Fleetwood. The one-horse badge riding into the one-horse town.
Town were missing their enforcer, but would no Morsy mean no mercy? Argyle were missing Waine for the showdown, but would they simply circle the wagons. Would the Magnificent Devon, backed by a possee of supporters that stretched back as far as the eye could see ride into their own Vale of Dearth and see out the James Wilson derby?
Three minutes in and greenhorn Green Mumba was caught on his heels by a superb through ball to Plant, who as you might expect, planted the ball in the Argyle net. One nil down…plus ca change.
Over in Deadwood, nothing much was stirring the crowd, apart from the Vale Park smoke signals that told Town they were in the driving seat. Little were they to know, that was as good as it got.
Time for some True Grit. First, a loose clearance landed at the feet of Randell who slotted the equaliser. Mere minutes later and Mumba carved open the Vale defence and his opposite wing back, Sheriff Joe, arrived to plunder his third goal in a month to give Argyle a lead that they never looked likely to relinquish.
Ipswich, despite the uphill task stuck to their guns. A Ladapo opener was swiftly cancelled out by the aptly much travelled Marriott, who then plundered a second from the Hole in Wall Gang of the Town defence. Despite Harness grabbing an ironically deflected equaliser, the news from Vale Park was everything Town had dreaded.
A swift break from Wright, whose pass, despite being fouled, was inch perfect for Finn Azaz, who rifled the ball home. Argyle finished the season as they began it, with one of their Young Guns scoring the last goal of a triumphant season. Just has he had scored the first one to begin it. A come from behind win yet again. Relentless doesn’t begin to cover it.
The score lines remained the same until both matches end, and Ipswich fans perhaps regretted their pre match promises of a hundred goals and points. In the end only one side broke into three figures, which left their predictions looking as ill-advised as General Custer’s surveying of the Little Big Horn and telling his men, “Ok guys, this looks like a nice place to camp.”
In great scenes at Vale Park, where the townsfolk generously allowed the visiting fans to enjoy the celebrations their 101 points deserved, it was the Loan Arrangers, with the Green Army going Tonto who were able to receive their deserved Championship trophy.
A case of Hi Ho Silverware and away. To the Championship as Champions. And beyond??
Elsewhere, spare a thought for Sheffield Wednesday, whose ninety-six points was just enough to scrape third place. History was to give them some reprieve as at time of writing they had clawed back an unlikely four goal deficit against a Posh team whose place in the play-offs was only made possible by the Wednesday last day victory over Derby.
Barnsley, having gone off the boil at the end of the season had just too much for Bolton who missed the Wembley trip they really wanted. South Yorkshire will be emptying this Bank Holiday weekend.
At the other end, it was a farewell to Morecambe, Accrington and, perhaps the most satisfying schadenfreude of all, MK Bombed, who having missed out in last seasons play offs, after ending our season with the drubbing to end all drubbings, literally collapsed in the last two weeks of this season, to find themselves once again anticipating the Dons Derby with the real Wimbledon.
Of course, it never actually ends. Retained lists, farewells to Danny Mayor and Connor Grant whose left-wing partnership would have warmed the cockles of Michael Foots heart and who leave us better than they found us with grateful thanks. Players who were being cheered to the rafters as Champions now pondering their futures with contract offers burning a hole in their pockets, whilst their agents work the phones to see if there might be something better on the horizon.
New players will be arriving. New heroes to cheer. New rivalries to resume after too long an absence from the Championship table. And Ipswich, still hard on our heels.
It has been a joy to write OGAAT this season, in part because of the way that season developed, but also because of the warm comments and feedback received from so many of you. I am given to understand our chairman has been known to enjoy OGAAT. If so, and he is reading this, he might want to look away now.
Simon and Jane Hallett arrived in our midst without any fanfare, brought in by James Brent, the man that saved our club at the behest of the hard work of fans who could not imagine our city without its football club.
From joining the board to then assuming control our chairman has made tough calls, set a clear course for building a sustainable Championship club, invested in infrastructure and the staffing backbone that supports the ambitions of the playing side, and introduced a level of transparency that puts every other club in the league structure to shame.
There is not a single element of the club today that does not show the effect of his measured and considered assessment. He is for me the best thing to happen to this club in my lifetime since Paul Mariners debut, and it is a measure of the man that he would probably put that event above his own contribution as well.
Whatever next season holds, and we will be hoping for the best but accepting of the potential for the worst, I for one will be forever grateful that his and Janes stewardship of the club have given us back our pride and enjoyment in watching our club, playing great football, and managed by one of the most genuine, honest, talented and straightforward coaches we have ever had.
Until August then, OGAAT will take that long overdue break. I’ll be back for the sequel.
The Magnificent Devon Ride Again!
COYG!!!!!
