Raining Shots and Millers

Well Aldershot Town provided some good football in a ground that has character. It was a very wet day and I arrived early so parking was fine; using a public park near the ground as advised by the road signs.

I started my football standing to watch so chose the Central Terrace to watch the game and quickly sought some warming refreshment. Reasonable cheeseburger and tea set me back a fiver. And some good chips and tea at half time were also welcome in the the continuing rain.
The football was entertaining, especially considering the stage of the season meaning there was little hope the result would lead to anything of great note.

Needed more than a moat :-(

This match was amazing but unfortunately for the home fans not for the right reasons. I arrived at the Keepmoat Stadium whilst my team were still tussling in the FA Cup semi so superstitious as us football fans are I vowed to avoid the match until it was over.  This meant standing out in the wet and cold for an hour. Anyway to this game. The tea and pie were average but well appreciated. My seat had padding! More amazing Doncaster quickly went two up within 6 minutes. There was hope! Unfortunately some interesting refereeing in the second half and Portsmouth were given two penalties that they converted to level and leave Rovers with only ten men.

A brilliant third goal then gave Doncaster the lead back! Surely that was it but no, Portsmouth managed two late goals to clinch faint survival hopes and condemn Rovers. Sad end to the match.
The stadium is nice enough modern affair.  It lacks much in originality but no-one should hold that against it. I parked easily enough in main car park so had a short walk to find the ticket office and buy a (cheap) ticket for a decent seat and excellent view under cover from the elements.

Ram Raid

I never leave a match early but this time I was late. Late enough to miss the first goal but there were more to come as Derby won; one particularly strange and caused much angst amongst the home crowd.

 The ground itself is typical of new stadia, functionally fine but lacking any charm, still the staff were very friendly and helpful. I sat with some of the older fans but the banter was no less lively for that. One chap in front of me was very vocal and forthright in sharing his opinions on the goings on.
Despite my late arrival I parked next to the ground and getting in and out of town was straight forward and pretty quick.
Derby play some decent football and but for a little excitement at the end had an easy victory. The incident followed on from a 'back pass' from which the visitors took a very quick free kick or straight into the Derby goal to much complaints from home fans.  All made worse when they scored again to peg the Rams back to 3-2 but they held on for the win. A decent crowd of 25,222 saw a good match.