Train (Manchester-Shotton) £22-30
Tea £1
Programme £2
Tea at ground £1
Total £26-30
So it has come to this. Way back in August 2016 when I saw South Melbourne in action I could not have imagined the highs and lows and adventures of this epic season. Today my season concluded with a trip to North Wales for a play off to get into Europe. The kick off time of 5:15 suited me perfectly as I had been banished from the house with Mrs Hopper having a friend to stay.
Connahs Quay is a small town on the Dee Estuary, just across from Chester and accessible by rail from Shotton. There is a direct service from Piccadilly so I was able to utilise my Trans Pennine pass again.
I made it to Shotton just after 4, where the River Dee was bathed in warm sunshine. I walked across a footbridge for some photos then headed along the shoreline up towards the ground. The stadium is located behind a college, and today was free entry so fans were streaming through the turnstiles. After a few introductory shots I surveyed the ground. On the far side was a TV tower while the main structure on this side was a large stand with floodlights attached to the roof. Like Litherland this was also an athletics ground so had racing tracks around the pitch.
There was a buzz around the ground, and kids dressed in red and blue were milling about the tunnel. Inside there was a small black cat wandering around looking at the club officials and players with some bemusement. On the pitch this was a big game with £150k at least at stake. It is crazy to think that the winner could end up going all the way to the final of the Europa League.
The game wasn't exactly flat but it never really sparked into life. An early Airbus cross from 31 found the head of 4, who could only fire wide. At the other end the Nomads had a succession of half chances. 20s drifted free kick was punched aa way by the keeper and then the same player blasted a mile over (it would have been an excellent drop goal had this been rugby). A nudged headed by c19 was saved and then 11s volley was again foiled by the busy Airbus keeper. The highlight of the first half was chatting with the pitch side photographer, who talked about the Women's FA Cup final, the North Wales dominance of this league and their likely progress in Europe (should either side make it there).
The second half was marginally better but still really cagey. C10 opened the chances when shooting wide from close range, before a16 hit the side netting after a surge in from the left. In between these opportunities Airbus picked up a couple of bookings in the middle of the park. Another rare chance for Airbus came when 17s effort was easily caught by the Nomads keeper. This was heading for extra time and I was praying for a goal as I needed to catch a train at 7:37. And lo and behold Connahs Quay took the lead when a scramble and ping pong in the box resulted in a driven goal by 20. Not the prettiest of goals but one of the most crucial. The away side could only respond with a header over from a16, who had done well today. So Connahs Quay will be heading into Europe and will kick off on June 30th.
Upon arrival at Shotton I discovered the train was terminating at Chester, meaning I had to get on board a rattling Northern Train which stopped everywhere. The train was full of revellers and people coming back from Chester races, so there was a buzz on board (and plenty of songs!).
The sun set as we trundled through the Cheshire countryside and this felt like a natural end to the season. I had the foresight to get off at Stockport as I would have missed the connecting train at Piccadilly. Stockport seems like a second home this season but fortunately I made the train without any bother today. I made it by 10:45 to close out what has been a wild, kaleidoscopic and unrepeatable season.
Haway the Euros!
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