August 12 2009

Selhurst Park

Jamesey found himself among a vast minority for CPFC's Carling Cup meeting with Torquay United.

Yes, I know it's not the "real" Cup and the only people who care about it are the ones who get to the late stages.

But it's a game of football and most of our first team choices were playing so it was surprising that an underwhelming 3,000 or so (including a couple of hundred Torquay United supporters) bothered to turn up for our 2-1 win on a clammy Tuesday night (Aug 11).

League newcomers Torquay were easily outclassed (how nice to be able to say that about Palace again) in the first half but ex-Clown Darren Ambrose's two second-half goals took us through to the next stage of what has always been a low-interest competition.

The fact that so few supporters turned up had its advantages. One could even have a drink in the Clifton without being eyeballed by doormen and with Fullers London Pride at £2 a pint I was only too happy to pay up. My concessionary ticket was only a fiver so I had plenty of spare beer money.

Torquay and Palace supporters drank together amicably in the Clifton and it was hardly a fixture to threaten any trouble, one would have thought.

Even so, stewards were searching bags at the turnstiles which has almost never happened to me in league games except when Millwall or other troublesome neanderthals were visiting.

Sitting in Block A of the Main Stand I was also surprised to see a formidable presence of security wallahs, shaven heads gleaming, intently watching a pretty harmless collection of youths who had gathered to sing in the top corner. There were hardly enough people in the whole place to make a riot, let's face it.

My man, Alassane N'Diaye, had a quiet game by his standards to date, although the foul on him in the box brought the winning penalty goal.

Despite he small attendance an unexpectedly good atmosphere prevailed, with plenty of noise and enthusiasm. But it is still an eerie feeling looking across at an empty "Arfur" and Holmesdale.

By the end of the season it will be 20 years since we walked down Wembley Way for the FA Cup Final and it is a shock to realise that many HOL members weren't even born then.

Maybe with a bit of luck we could have a good run in the League Cup, dream of dreams, although there will be far greater hurdles than Torquay to overcome.

Email Jamesey with your comments to jevans3704@aol.com

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