Preseason events are very different. Nothing riding on the result, pitches harder than kryptonite and fitness levels way off kilter.
Except…..
Yesterday we travelled to the gorgeous Lydd Town (admittedly it was scorching) in the Kent countryside. As we approached the ground, it was apparent that we were approaching wasteland, and then - a sign! Just saying Lydd Town FC. When we went thought the barrier, suddenly we were greeted with enough car parking for a World Cup qualifier! No problem at all parking next to the changing rooms, having already been welcomed as old friends ( we’ve never met before in league or cup), we found an idyllic little ground, newly promoted to step 5, and quite obviously a load of love and care gone into it. We were treated to a brief shower to liven up the pitch, and off we went.
To be fair, there was not a lot between the teams in the first half, despite the brief shower, the pitch was hard and it was oppressively hot. What it was thought was thoroughly entertaining, and both goals stayed intact until a comedy moment led to Lydd taking the lead through a trip over a defender and ball going in off his shoulder! There was mystery later as the defender ( with over 50 appearances for us) confessed that he may have got confused and “booted it in himself”. Impressive

As the second half got underway, United made several substitutions, and got the upper hand. A returning winger (sorry, names are not allowed in preseason until registrations are complete) drifter in from the left, jinked around a defender and deftly found the net. He also scrapped the upright twice and was quite honestly more that our opponents could handle. At the final whistle, hands were shaken, beers consumed and ground left tidy. Our thanks to Lydd Town and their supporters and staff - if all first pre season games were like this, we would have them as our favourite games of the season!
Next up is Monday night’s EGM, followed by Hastings United at home on Tuesday week (TBC)