From a distance the world looks like Amber and Chocolate.
It was from a distance that I tracked the Salford City versus Sutton United game. At the same time when I was thinking of a blog post title the passing of Nanci Griffiths was in my mind. Griffiths recorded “From a Distance,” which was better known when Bette Midler covered it.
Like any good tracker I had my tracking tools. They were Twitter and Amber Planet. Combined these two are like a live blog updating you on not just what’s happening during the game but also the plight (or privilege) of the Amber Army of Sutton fans on the move. Broadly this is a case of train versus supporter’s bus. It would be fair to say both throw up challenges but a traditional three o’clock start allows for some delay. It’s the twelve thirty starts that make the heart race when travelling by road or rail to a match. As a legacy Man Utd supporter I’ve had a few twelve thirty starts usually against Fulham. The race between bus and train ended with an added time goal for the bus with the Gandermonium lot fluking a fast train back to London, only to find a bus replacement service at Victoria causing them to take a ride on the misery line aka Northern back to Sutton.
All in all an amazing effort from all one hundred and eight Amber Army supporters who made the trip for a game that was originally to be played at the Gander. It was all worth it as they got to see Sutton Utd collect their first ever English league point with a nil nil draw that could have ended with a win for Sutton or Salford City for that matter. Massive encouragement, Sutton didn’t concede a goal as the game raced to its end. Goalkeeper Dean had a much-needed wobble free clean sheet. Nor did Sutton retreat in to their own half to settle for a goalless draw. Inside the hot cauldron of added time with a deft flick from Bennett releasing Eastmond for a shot on goal but Salfords keeper denied us. I feel like we are building up to getting our first win in the English Football League. Whether that happens at Scunthorpe away or Oldham at home I don’t know but that win is coming home.
As for the game I was never really there but thanks to Twitter and Amber Planet I felt closer to the game, the transport woes and the drinking carry on. During all that I was roaming around Morden and Wimbledon were their was a noticeable fan buzz with AFC Wimbledon at home. Not only that Raynes Park Vale had a home game beating Camberley Town seven nil. So, if its goals you want and you need then bad then Raynes Park is your man. But I will always settle for Sutton, goals or no goals.
