When I woke up Tuesday morning, the last thing I expected was to be high fiving 2015/16 National League winner Amari Morgan-Smith in the middle of an industrial estate while covered in beer.
“Where do I go to tonight for content for Thursday, Cheltenham Saracens or Gloucester City?”
“If you go Glos I might join you.”
And join him I did.
The evening started as expected when at Gloucester, with technical difficulties. Our tickets wouldn’t scan and our student credentials were questioned but eventually we made our way into the away end despite the suspicion of a former classmate standing nearby. I picked up a program, a ‘golden goal’ ticket and an entry into their prize draw before heading over to the far side of the pitch for a meal deal.
£6.50, by footballing standards, is quite good for a cheeseburger with a Coke and chips which we told the backup ‘keeper was alright before worrying for its safety during shooting practice.
Gloucester took an early lead, with Ollie Hulbert putting the ball between the ‘keeper’s legs on the tenth minute, the goal did little to quash the Kiddy fans’ spirits as they continued to back their team throughout.
Like a hopeful right swipe on tinder, Gloucester’s chances of scoring were crushed by the disappointment of the referee's whistle. The Kiddy keeper came out bravely to meet a through ball and found himself clattered by both attacker and defender, with the ball falling to Gloucester to score but the referee blowing otherwise.
The second half saw Harriers shooting towards the away end which resulted in many comments about Gloucester’s shot stopper and his absence of hair. Goal kicks were accompanied by choruses of ‘ohhhhhhh yout fat b*****d ahhhhh’ and instances of ‘where’s your hair gone’ to the tune of where’s your mumma gone.
Singing ‘Gloucester’s a s**t hole, I wanna go home’ was odd considering I called the city home whilst at UoG with my flat just a five-minute walk from Meadow Park. My university held me back from joining in with the pro-Worcestershire songs especially considering my position at the very front, ‘Gloucestershire’ plastered across my back.
It took only five minutes for Ashley Hemmings to find the equaliser in the second half, making it one all thanks to a good turn, run and shot past Jake Cole. The second goal saw a far greater reaction, Alex Penny fired home the rebound after a cross was headed onto the bar, the defender ran to the right, everyone followed, one moment I was cheering the goal, the next thing I know Matt was gone.
Although a first and second goal was inevitable, a third was a stuff of dreams. Sam Austin picked up the ball in his own half, running through the home side with ease before rounding the keeper and slotting home. Chaos ensued as almost the entirety of the away end ran together to be with the players in their celebration.
The full time whistle went and ‘Kiddy are massive, everywhere we go’ was belted out by all with the players and staff joining the fans’ full time celebrations with aspirations of the EFL shared by all.