No Mist Opportunities

There are times when a decision made by a referee, that no matter how bad or unjust, can actually work in your favour. Take yesterday as an example.

We were playing ok, but arguably the Macc looked like the most likely team to score. Step in Beano, who muscled himself into a good position when a player (who will only be described as “number 14” because I can’t be bothered to find out his actual name) sheared him to the ground; a cast-iron red in my book. I was chanting the usual “off, off, off”, while thinking “we don’t want him off here; a yellow would do the trick”. Why? :

• Macc would have put all 10 men behind the ball, and it would have been more difficult to break them down

• We have tried to do this twice at home already this season and failed (miserably) which would have played on minds

• Most importantly, the crowd and players united in the injustice would rally their efforts, which proved to be the case

A good period of pressure from Oxford followed, with number 14 on the receiving end of a great deal of pressure both from the fans and players. It was a chink in the armour that the players exploited brilliantly. The opening goal from Heslop sent the nine thousand strong Oxford fans into rapture.

The atmosphere should have been buzzing, but an unexpected guest turned up at the party; the fog – no NOT Dave Fogg, the land based cloud stuff. Have you ever been to a party when everything’s cool, people are enjoying themselves and suddenly the party is gate-crashed by a trouble-maker. The atmosphere immediately changes; euphoria switches to concern and agitation. Mr fog did this.

Not David Fogg

Around you everyone feared the irony. A game that so many people had made such a gargantuan effort to get on, in spite of the weather, was to be abandoned for a different type of weather. One could imagine that if the cloud of fog could be seen from above, it would be the shape of a middle digit hovering malevolently over the Kassam.

This does go to prove that we’re still not used to happy endings, our experience of the last umpteen years is still there residing – “It’s Oxford United; the worse will happen”. However, on this occasion the bad boy was not allowed to ruin the party. He realised at half time that he was an unwanted guest, so he stayed quiet enough to still be an annoyance, but not enough to ruin the party.

A second goal from the U’s saw the fans rally and optimism returned. Macc forced a goal and we finished the game edgy. However, that’s now three wins on the trot and 11th place in the league. Once again, our club overcame adversity on so many different levels, and it leaves you wondering: is this the new norm?

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