Matt proved early doors that he'd not lost his ability for witty conversation by the guy next to him tuning aside and using a multitude of highlighter pens to scribble in a text book.
Two minutes into the journey and a NUTS magazine fell out of a another's bag #lad - we'll all keep an eye on him - don't want him getting too excited too early.
We made good time and were in the Prenton Park Hotel by 12:30 and the bar had prepared well by putting 3 bar staff for Bournemouth's 2000 or so fans
A tad busy
To be fair their preparations were still better than that of the Mersey Skipper with an unprecedented 35 minute serving wait - thank god we didn't want food..
I told Matt to be a bit more aggressive at the bar, but he wasn't keen:
Come on Matt, grow a pair
Mersey Clipper
Tim, dressed as Bananaman, came up with the two best quotes of the day as more fancy dress revellers started singing - "They're so immature" said the 30 something Bananaman and quickly followed by "it's all right for you lot laughing - me and Batman (Blandford Phil) have to clean up after this lot!!!"
Blandford Phil and Tim
To the game...
The first mention should be to the crowd. I've been to many away games, but none had atmosphere to compare to this. From the pubs to under the stands to standing on the stands the noise, the humour, the passion was immense.
If this is a taste of what Championship Football is to bring - next season is going to be very very special
The game kicked off to a chorus of "we've got inflatables" as balls, balloons, bananas, sharks and dolphins appeared from nowhere surged to the skies.
AFCB quickly took control
A trademark Howe stepover free kick had Pitman in space in the 5th minute but he scuffed his shot wide
A minute later an Arter long range shot was well saved and as Pitman pounced he produced an even better save
Tranmere's first chance came on 12 minutes with a shot high over the bar from their 26 but never looked in control of the ball
On 21 minutes Arter picked up the ball just in our half and started running at goal. Good running from Pitman and Grabban pulled defenders wide and Arter, like Forest Gump, just kept running
If he'd scored instead of putting a knackered shot wide - it would have been goal of the season
Bournemouth were first to every loose ball and kept attacking Tranmere at will - I wish I'd brought binoculars instead of my glasses as the ball was never at our end
The best chance of the half fell to Grabban after just such harrying which had him running at goal ahead of all defenders
Just as we all thought he was going to shoot, the decision making of a woefully out of confidence striker kicked in and he dragged it back and tried to take on the last straggling-back defender
He was tackled, of course, and the half finished goalless despite AFCB's dominance
Half time below the stands was a time to be savoured. The roof shuddered under the noise of the AFCB fans and the Stewards looked on in awe - clearly unused to such a large boisterous crowd. It was like being at a gig with all the accompanying noise and excitement
The second half started as the first half ended with a 46th minute long range volley from Arter just going wide and 10 minutes later it was he again with an even better chance
Another run from deep saw him jinx past 2 but with every player beaten he lost a little more control of the ball until he'd passed the fourth and finally shot wildly as the ball was running away from him
Pitman had the next in a host of chances as he headed straight at the keeper from a Pugh cross
Ritchie and Pugh both had good chances blocked - this was one way traffic - if it had been a boxing match the towel would have come in by now
On 77 minutes Pitman was sent through and after using his "electric" pace he cut in from the left
McQuoid had come on for Grabban and was in acres of space in the box Pitman saw him there and thought "there's no way he'll score" and so rather than passing, curled a shot into the top left corner of the goal - which their keeper did marvellously to save
Mcquoid had his chance 5 minutes later though as fantastic work from Pugh and Francis on the right resulted in a low cross along the edge of the box straight to him - but he blazed over
Pitman vindicated, I feel
There was still time for Supa to come on to tremendous applause and in the 90th minute it was his head down that landed to Arter but the shot just went wide to keep my 3 season record intact of never seeing an AFCB win when I've travelled on the coach (sorry everyone)
Summary - probably the most one sides away performance I've seen but we were guilty of over-engineering chances with the final ball often being poor. The chances we did make, though, weren't taken and so even though some will rue Doncaster's late late late winner to deny us the title, we had chances enough to win 3 games. A final say to the Tranmere fans who applauded the team and our support at the end of the game - very sporting - what were they thinking of refusing to allow a trophy ceremony - not that it mattered in the end.....
Star man - Arter - was superb and yes there was the occasional loose ball but when that did happen, it was him that got the ball back
Team Warm up
Team Huddle
AFCB Support
Undercover Crowd Control
Tranmere - 1/3
Tranmere 2/3
Tranmere 3/3
On the Pitch
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