FA Cup giant killers...killed

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Yeovil Fanzone blogger Ben Barrett went through hell and back on Saturday, and that was just getting to the game...

I made a promise to myself at the start of the season, no matter where the draw put us, I would go to any far corner of the country to see Yeovil's FA Cup run; mission accomplished.

I was kind of hoping this adventure would take me further than a freezing Saturday in Oxford, but this blog is the tale of my day; a day that began at 5:30am, saw me take six trains, two buses, spend a lot of money and see us lose to a team two divisions below us.

It's fair to say this could be my first negative blog for a long time.

A quick timeline then... Saturday 7th November 2009

5:30am

The alarm goes off, damn this is early. It is still dark outside, on goes the scarf and coat this better be worth it.

6:34am

My first train has to get me into Leeds city centre, I should explain at this point that the only reason I get this train so early is to make it financially viable, it is only £25 return to get inconvenient trains, yet £40 each way to get one suitable for the kick-off time.

7:05am

Have just arrived in Leeds, got a magazine, bag of sweets as I set off for Birmingham.

9:33am

I've been waiting at Birmingham New Street (possibly the world's most difficult station to understand, but apparently that's just me) for nearly 20 minutes, as I get ready for train number three.

10:50am

So, I'm now in Oxford. A city that comes with a reputation of being somewhat posh. But surely I can find a McDonalds... there must be one somewhere, no?

I find a Burger King, that'll do.

11:30am

Fuelled by a burger, it is time to make my way to the Kassam Stadium.

Nice and easy, the 106 Bus goes directly there, and being just £2 return it is somewhat of a bargain. The notice on the window says that the bus will no longer be accepting £50 notes... no longer, you mean they used to? Only in Oxford.

12noon

I'm at the stadium and I've got my ticket, now for a beverage.

The Priory pub across the road from the stadium puts on a BBQ, and has an excellent atmosphere, the banter is jovial yet respectful.

1:30pm

My friends arrive and we make our way back to the bar for a second pint whilst discussing the game. We have to be favourites, but it wouldnt be easy.

2:59pm

An impeccable minute's silence is observed. Perfect.

3:00pm 5:00pm

We will discuss this further later...

5:15pm

Bus back to the station and I get heckled by an Oxford fan who decided to follow me singing 1-0 at me. I'll say this, have fun playing Barrow next week, whilst we look forward to hosting Charlton.

6:30pm- 11pm

Well the return journey is exactly the opposite as the one I used to get to Oxford, so work it out for yourself.

The sorry tale

So then, I've been awake for 17 hours, and we've lost and to be honest it wasn't a pleasant watch.

Oxford worked hard, very hard. They knew our strengths and worked on them, Shaun MacDonald is possibly one of the best players in the League let alone our team and they cut him out. The Wales international couldnt control the game like he normally does.

I'm not keen on Andy Welsh being brought off for the umpteenth time this season, he gives the team an option and good delivery from wide areas, which when we needed it most didn't happen.

Jon Obika, usually so lethal in front of goal was off the boil and Ricky Martin in goal showed bravery and great distribution but a costly communication error gifted them their goal.

At 1-0 down, we had a young striker in Rob Clowes and Dean Bowditch on the bench, yet neither made it on the pitch, 10 minutes of experience for the youngster would have been brilliant for him and who knows he could make himself a hero. Bowditch is on the comeback from injury, but if he was fit enough for the bench, surely he was fit enough to play some part.

Sam Williams wasn't at the races, he won fewer headers than ever before whilst Kieran Murtagh looked shaky. Skiverton wasn't best pleased and I'm glad, we weren't good enough, there is a reason they were two leagues below us.

The wider implications of no cup run (I'm not including the Somerset Premier Cup, which Skiverton has twice mentioned he is taking seriously) could mean we have to sell another asset to help balance the books. Who could that asset be, Alcock? Welsh? Bowditch?

A cup run would have cemented the feel-good factor that has been hovering over the club in the last 12 months. But we can concentrate on the league now, how cliche!

A word about Oxford, one Twitter post said that Yeovil fans didn't sing at all, well that was rubbish, my voice is still hoarse, Yeovil fans were brilliant again.

I think I heard a couple of football league, your having a laugh chants from the Yellow Army. Original! The atmosphere inside the ground, well it was terrible, with only three stands it's always going to be difficult.

I'm not happy about Saturday and I would like to think someone from the club knows it. So we now regroup for Southend, where fans will expect nothing more than a win, it is that simple.

Oxford will be in League Two next year, and good for them, but we won't be joining them.