Do to circumstances over which I could have had control, but didn't, I had missed the last home game of the STRIKERS, but had heard a lot about how well they had played, how the ref had again done them no favours and how the opposing keeper was MoMT. They had also done well to take the lead being two down and eventually drawing in Newcastle last week, so it was with guarded optimism that I headed for the ground on a quite mild afternoon (for Brisbane) complete with the BSSA bottle of champers to be presented to Traja to celebrate his 300th NSL game. I had the plonk because Jim, who usually travels with me, had a sudden minor family crisis and had to pull out. I, who have been known to carry such things as giant tape worms, inflated bananas and a life-size cut out of Minder's Arfur in a Manchester United strip to games felt strangely silly carrying the bottle nicely done up in cellophane and STRIKERS' yellow ribbon to the gate.
The last game had "attracted" and alleged 1200 and one gained the impression that not all of them were back this time. The Free Kick were soon given out and I enjoyed a chat with a lad in the old Oz "Ajax" shits and a Manchester United tattoo on his leg who was off to Upton Park in February - luck sod! Now the noisier support is split into two sort of stereo drum zones, my little group looked very small. A lot of the casuals and even a couple of previously considered fellow tragics have dropped off so we probably numbered 12 to 15 or so, but this is a great group of fans to be with and they demonstrate that winning is not, as many believe, the be all and end all of sticking with your team. You can sing while you're losing or bottom of the table. For me the match day experience is not simply to watch the game, but to interact with the like minded, have a laugh and do your best to enjoy what is happening on the park.. I think I have enjoyed the experience of being there as much as ever at my last two attendances - since "the drum" problem has been so well resolved.
We looked to have dropped all pretence of sweeper and started with a flat back four which seemed to work really well. Our lads were clearly up for it and played with serious intent all night. I think we shaded South Melbourne all the first half and when Traja scored after about quarter of an hour it was just reward and so good for him in his landmark match. We were up 1-0 at half time, but there was still no air of optimism apparent near where I was sitting - our defensive record (and it is record for failure to have a clean sheet) made that reasonable if unpleasant.
South Melbourne immerged after the break and proceeded to boss the game for the first 20 minutes, mainly by getting wide and taking the ball to the goal line which still seems to be on the prohibited list of moves for the STRIKERS. Sure enough, the lanky Kiwi who may be booking has place to the Confed Cup scored to equalise and there was a little gloom but very briefly and our support actually stepped up a gear. Their keeper had been our favourite when Eastern Pride had played here and we sang to him all night. He quite correctly stoically gave the impression that he did not hear us - until their goal was scored, then he could not resist turning to us and punching the air to give us it bit back. "Now we know you listening!" we sang and more or les kept him under verbal pressure for all the second half, especially so after the Red Baron took us to the lead towards the end. None of us really expected us to hang on, but hang on we did and what relief when the final whistle blew. From the celebrations you would be hard pressed to know we are still well last in the NSL. We wondered if this signals our revival and were confident enough of this at the end to tell the world (actual a very minute part of it) that "We're going to win the league!". You heard it here first folks!
The was mission one of three successfully completed for me. Home then to watch parts two and three on TV and have to say I felt quite chirpy this morning.
Perhaps a win away next week might see a few more of the fickle back for the Christmas match - we shall see.