By THE FUNKY CHICKEN

As often happens, given our annual week at the Edinburgh Fringe, I missed the first home game of the season.

t doesn't bother me too much as a rule because I can't  remember us being  anything other than perennial  'slow starters' to any season. In the not too distant past it seemed that half the team were still on holiday until mid September

In fact I'm pretty sure I can remember our manager (Wayne Harrison during one of his stints at the club) being in America until two or three weeks into the new season. It's good to see that the  all round professionalism of the club is a lot higher these days.

Imagine my surprise then when I got a text on the opening Saturday to say we'd on. Brilliant. A further message on the Monday, and we'd won again--away to Hyde. I was convinced that once I was back yam--last Saturday, that it would all go wrong from there.

It was bound to, but no, another away win. I can't quite believe it, and was totally convinced that once I actually got to see tonight's game, everything would inevitably go pear-shaped. It was nailed on.

When we were in Edinburgh we had an absolutely fabulous time, and I arrived back home a bit tired and emotional. Amongst the highlights of the  27 shows that we saw were; Camille O Sullivan, Ardal O Hanlon, Stephen K Amos, Flawless, Hitler Alone, Fame, NoFitState Circus (pictured left) --the latter being a 'non traditional' circus where all the performers looked like they could easily pass for members of Hawkwind.

I didn't have too much time for shopping and the only souvenirs I brought home were a Prince FarI record and a haggis, I love Scottish cuisine.

One day I came across a 'Tattie Dog'--a marvellous concoction--a hot dog covered in mashed potato, battered and fried!!!! I had two, they were delish.

There's very few things the Scots haven't been able to batter and deep fry, maybe that's why its called Scotland The Brave.

Having supported the Reds for forty odd years I'm not really used, as a rule, to having to study the top half of the League table too much, certainly not the promotion places, and certainly not in  August!!

But I've already been poring over the table. If we stay where we are I'm going to be psychologically drained. I couldn't wait to get to BP though tonight, back in my rightful spot. Non league is most definitely where the True Soul of football lies, where  community, identity, friendship and family, loyalty, authenticity, are all still  present (and I think that was thrown into even sharper contrast by England's Shame during the summer) and where greed and selfishness is largely absent.

Following the Reds this season  will be completely refreshing after watching the overpaid divers and cheaters in South Africa. Nothing can compete with the experience of supporting your HOME TOWN CLUB.

I was worried that our good run could come to a halt, so just to be on the safe side I put my lucky hat on - a black Pork Pie affair - talk about a pea on a drum! It'll be staying aloft now til we get beat mind.

Tonight's game at Borough Park kicked off with 610 people packed into BP, and they included me, Sarah, Ezra, Taffy, Lucy, Mark, Colin, Jonesy, Chico, Niamh.

The first half saw us playing some absolutely fantastic football, and all at a breathtaking speed, not the frenetic, purposeless kind of speed, but controlled and positive, and our passing and movement off the ball was fabulous.

We created loads of chances, and then broke the deadlock on 18 minutes (I'm not such a stickler for detail, but Colin's Golden Goal ticket was for 17 so that's how I've remembered).

A loose ball fell to Johnny Wright around the edge of the box and he hit it as true as an arrow into the back of the net. One nil up and absolutely deservedly so. Every bit of our play was good. Our mid-field looked mobile and creative and also good at harrying and breaking down.

I can't remember ever seeing a Reds team work so hard at closing down, and jockeying and tackling - fabulous. A few of them (Phil McLuckie and Shaun Vipond) seemed to be in perpetual motion and must have covered every blade of grass twice.

To be fair to Harrogate, they too were intent on playing a passing game, although not with the speed and accuracy that we performed with.

Their equaliser came courtesy of a Harrogate player pushing a defender (possibly Kyle May) out of the way, and everyone (Arran Taylor in the nets included) waiting for the ref to blow but to no avail. The shot trickled into the net as everyone stood and watched.

Only 20 odd minutes into the new season, for me, and I was already seething with a horrible rage.

The way we were playing was full of confidence that must have come from our 3 wins--and it was an absolute joy to behold.

We got a free-kick on the edge of the area and Rowntree unleashed an exocet that smashed through the defensive wall and into the back of the net.

Two one at half-time, and given an ovation by the 610 that I don't think I can ever recall the like of, after only 45 minutes.

For the first 20 minutes or so of the second half the match carried on in the same vein. As it got darker, it got really, really dark under our old lights - or at least what's left of them. There were only three bulbs on one of them, and I'm surprised the Harrogate officials weren't requesting the ref to get a light meter out - it was properly dark.

The floodlight situation is a real fiasco and needs sorted pronto. There's a new pole right in front of where we stand which makes life really awkward. We have to keep shuffling about and dodging to look round it. No way am I going to move my spot though - not after 40 odd years.

Other new things are--a new exit gate at the Town End, Jennings Beer in the bar, a new board for the halftime raffle, another new turnstile at the Town End, and some new steps up onto the road by the Social  Club. All completely unnecessary change if you ask me and I don't like any of it. Borough Park is gonna be ruined at this rate.

For the last 20 minutes or so the game completely lost it's flow, and we were considerably under the cosh as the match became scrappy and disjointed. Despite our earlier dominance it seemed like we were hanging on a bit and resorting to long, long balls punted up-field to nobody or wellied so hard at Johnny Wright and Arnison that they couldn't offer to control them.

There was four minutes of extra time and Harrogate had a couple of corners, thankfully we cleared them, but only to whack  the ball away for them to come back at us, although Arnison did break through on goal and sent in a screamer from the edge of the box at the Town End only for the keeper’s fingertips to push it against the post.

When the final whistle went everyone cheered and clapped and the players returned the compliment. What a bloody marvellous performance - especially in the first half. It seems really unfair that despite winning four straight games at the start of the season there are two other teams who have done the same - doesn't seem right. I bet there isn't another league where three teams have won their first four games.

So let's hope we can keep this form going - extremely impressive.

Hold on - We Have Lift Off.

Up The Reds.

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