Saturday we awoke early. ‘I’m going to enjoy every minute of this one’ I said to Mrs CNN. She eyed me suspiciously, ‘Is that so?’. She had me and I had to concede ‘No, not really’. By the time we headed down to Liberty Way my anxiety level had reached stratospheric heights and my brain was close to grid-lock. As we watched the teams warming up I experienced flash-backs to a year ago – almost to the day - when we met Chasetown in the BG play-off final – could we really do it again? As LW gradually filled, both sets of fans mingled in the broken sun and many, like me, must have been pondering whether pure ecstasy, or devastating agony lay ahead.
They came, they queued, they got very, very nervous...
To view some more of our images of what followed (on You Tube), click here.
Boro: Acton, Oddy, Cameron, Dean, Forsdick, Hadland, Armson, Noon, Storer, Moore and Dillon. Subs: Nisevic, Walker, Collins, Foster and Marsden. The crowd was given as 3,018, with around 300-400 Chippenham Town fans and a few neutrals dotted around. The kick-off was delayed for a nerve jangling 10 minutes, during which there was much nervous chatting (I'm sure this was done with the best intent - the delay, not the chatting - although as with Brackley in mid-week there was no-one waiting to get in at the appointed time). By 3.10pm the tension was almost unbearable. We cheered and clapped like mad things as the players emerged at last, partly in relief, partly in terror. Then, as the two teams lined up we all held our breath…
The big moment arrives...
The Boro kicked off playing towards the EWAIN (End Without An Interesting Name) which was fairly rammed with Boro fanage. From the off the Boro fans gave the lads excellent vocal support, despite the fact that many were suffering from chronic play-off nerves. The early exchanges seemed to indicate that we were in for a very close game, with open play leading to opportunities at both ends - of which Chippenham had the better, with two ‘moments’ in the area that had many Boro fans wincing. The Boro had some decent moves of their own too, but overall possession was evenly balanced and the sides largely cancelled each other out and with the outcome of the game remaining in the balance. I sipped at my bottle of water and clung to my scarf as I fought to avoid passing out completely.
The half continued in pretty much the same way throughout – two evenly matched teams, giving their all as their supporters sang and suffered on the sidelines. It was clear that Chippenham were a good side and the reasons why they had beaten us twice were evident. However, the Boro are not too bad either and as the play-ebbed and flowed there really was nothing between them. As half-time approached we took a lesson from last year’s POF and headed towards the Away End a few minutes early to avoid the end-swap crush – many other Boro fans took the same course, which eased things at the break. It also gave us the chance to see things from a slightly different perspective, although to be honest the view was no more comforting from the Away End.
HT: 0-0
Mrs CNN’s HT Verdict: ‘I ain’t got a good feeling about this’.
CNN’s HT Verdict: ‘This one’s just too close to call’.
The second half saw the Boro fans squeezing into the Away End and the game continuing along the same ulcer inducing course, with hopes and fears, gasps and cheers filling LW as play shifted from one end to the other. A moments pause came after a Chippenham player took a bad knock – eventually being stretchered from the field to respectful applause from the Boro fans in the Away End – but otherwise there was little respite from the anxiety that increased exponentially in relation to the time remaining. With around 20 minutes of the second half gone, Chippenham had a sustained period of pressure down at the far end and we watched with increasing alarm as the Boro defence struggled to hold fast. Then, from a corner we saw a scramble and the ball hitting the back of the net to set the Chippenham support in the EWAIN celebrating wildly. 0-1. The Boro fans looked on grimly and I felt my heart slowly filling with ice cold despair. I looked at my watch ‘20 minutes left’. Mrs CNN remained silent beside me.
If we’ve learned one thing over time it’s that these Boro lads do not give up and they never lose heart and so it was that they immediately pushed forward in search of the equaliser. It was not long in coming either, with a corner leading to a trip in the box and cries of ‘penalty!!’ just moments before we saw the ball poked into the back of the net by Dillon which triggered stupendous celebrations from the Boro fans all around LW. 1-1. It was a great moment and from a state of impending agony I was instantly switched back to one of shattered nerves - it was game back ON. Not won, not over by a long way, but now most definitely not lost. After an agonising last few minutes, which included a fine 25 yard Noon shot that skimmed over the bar, the whistle went to signal the end of normal time.
FT: 1-1
Mrs CNN’s FT Verdict: ‘I hope this doesn’t go to penalties’.
CNN’s FT Verdict: ‘If it does, it may just be simpler to kill myself’.
As extra time began the Boro were again playing towards the EWAIN, leading to some difficult decisions about whether to swap ends. We stuck in the Away End along with a sizeable chunk of the Boro fans, whilst at the far end the majority of the Chippenham fans sat it out in the EWAIN. Thus it was that play se-started and we gathered what was left of our senses and our energies to give the lads our support. With Marsden replacing Dillon and Nisevic replacing Forsdick, the Boro re-focussed and pushed on, creating some fairly good openings. At our end Chippenham threatened just as often and the tension was palpable and physically draining.
As the end of the first period of extra time approached, we watched as a Boro attack built down the right with Oddy, who worked inside and switched it across to Marsden, who collected it near the by-line. He looked up to see Nisevic storming into the box, laid it back and Nisevic hit the ball into the net. It took a second or two for this to register in the Away End, but when it did the place just erupted in a sustained explosion of frenzied celebrations. 2-1. Oh my, could it be? I snogged Mrs CNN and then grasped my scarf with both hands, in doing so almost strangling myself as I held on so tightly, almost fearing to believe, hardly daring to watch. Immediately after the re-start the whistle went to signal the end of the first bit.
ET HT: 2-1
Mrs CNN’s FT Verdict: ‘We’re 15 minutes from doing it dude’.
CNN’s FT Verdict: ‘I can’t take much more of this’.
The second period of extra time took forever, but in a strange way I had begun to relax. I think it was my body’s way of saying – oh look, you’re about to have a major seizure. As the Boro fans re-gathered in the Away End, the cumulative stress levels went off the scale. Watches were checked and re-checked, worried glances were exchanged, anxieties shared with strangers as we clung on watching those minutes tick by a long second at a time. There were chances to seal it - Hadland, Moore and Armson all had a bash, but there remained just the one goal in it. As time ticked down Dean stretched for a tackle in midfield (won the ball), then another (won it again) and another (took out the ball and the player). The third was horribly mis-timed and looked pretty dreadfull and the referee issued a straight red. Not a great moment. After this, Collins came on for Moore as the Boro re-grouped. A few minutes later Hadland was absolutely clattered in the far corner as things threatened to get a bit tetchy, only a yellow card followed, but just as importantly this took up a little more precious time.
The beginning and the end - in between we all died a thousand times...
Then suddenly, after what seemed like 15 years, the final whistle went to trigger scenes of joyous celebrations around LW. I hugged and kissed Mrs CNN as anxiety turned to sheer relief and I shook hands with people I’ve never met before. Later, we wandered across to where the fans and team had gathered. We passed the Chippenham players who were looking pretty gutted. They left the field soon after, still locked in deep despair, to respectful applause from some of the Boro fans. As with Chasetown last year we felt for them, but this was our day and we didn’t dwell on it. Those that stayed on to watch the on-field celebrations and cheer the presentations from the EWAIN terraces shared in the immense pride, passion and collective happiness that washed over LW for a long time after the final whistle had faded. These will forever remain fantasic memories.
Time to celebrate the win and salute the heroes...
CNN were the proud player sponsors of Guy Hadland for the 2009/10 season - give us a big smile Guy!... doh!!
As with the POF last year, we felt emotionally drained by the time we left LW. Yet again, both sets of fans had endured a torrent of stress – this year extended by extra time. That only one team could win is the nature of the beast, that it was the Boro was simply too wonderful to express. Two years ago we were dropped two leagues, with an enforced name change - we started with nothing. To the players that chose to stick with us, you will always be legends, to those that joined us, you are all stars. Ian Neale and Kevin Wilkin are gods. ‘Two years, it only took two years’ sang the Boro fans, but they have been two years of demanding work for everyone at the Boro. Success has been hard earned. RIP ‘Coops’ - your boys did good.
ET FT: 2-1
Mrs CNN’s FT Verdict: ‘It’s absolutely fantastic – I’m so happy for everyone’.
CNN’s FT Verdict: ‘I can hardly believe it, but we’re back in the BSN’.
CNN's Entertainment rating: 7.5
CNN’s MOM: Cameron. Honourable mention to Nisevic. Respect to everyone at the Boro.
To watch the Soccerx coverage of the game, click here.
If it is any consolation for Chippenham, the two teams we beat in the play-off semi-final and final last year – Chesham and Chasetown – both got promoted yesterday, so perhaps this is something of a lucky token. We wish Chippenham Town and their fans all the best for next season.
Finally, just how good does this look?
Nuneaton Town Football Club
