Confessions Of A Neutral Supporter ­ Part Two

At Ted¹s suggestion, we take a gentle jaunt out on the District Line to
watch Dagenham take on Wycombe. It¹s considerably milder than when I was
here in October, watching Grimsby, and the Wycombe fans are already there in
decent numbers as we wander on to the away terrace, munching the usual
excellent Dag-burgers. We wander right down to the front and are soaking up
the ambience, or something, as the Wycombe players start their running drill
immediately in front of us. ŒSingles... Doubles!¹ barks the fitness coach,
as they do their tippy-toes comedy sprint and the smell of liniment wafts on
the air. They¹re so close I hope I¹m putting a little bit of spec on them in
preparation for when we play them next Monday, but we shall see...
The game, like the weather, is a marked improvement on last time. Dagenham
look really lively, with Matt Richie, still on loan from Portsmouth, causing
all sorts of problems for the Wycombe defence. Indeed, Dagenham should take
the lead, but Ben Strevens¹ effort is ruled out for offside, though Ted¹s
not convinced it¹s the correct decision. The Wycombe fans aren¹t
particularly happy. They have a drum, in preference to singing, and Ted and
I have a small number of the dreaded species Smartarsus Middle-agedicus
standing next to us, including one who¹s so one-eyed we have to keep
checking he¹s not actually a Cyclops.
Despite all Dagenham¹s dominance, it¹s level at half-time. Wycombe appeal
for a penalty when one of their players looks to be tugged back in the box,
but he already seemed to be falling before the contact and the ref ignores
it. The photographer squatting in front of us (not Ted¹s mate, Paul, though
he is in attendance) reckons it was a pen, but Ted disagrees. Eventually,
however, the Daggers are made to pay for not taking their chances. John-Paul
Pittman turns his defender and fires past Tony Roberts, who¹s just about to
play his 400th game for Dagenham and is probably getting frustrated by the
lack of reference to his age/weight/mobility/Welshness from the Wycombe
fans. Though it has to be said that Wycombe decide to chant when they¹re
winning, prompting some derisive comments from the Daggers fans. ŒDoes your
mother know you¹re here?¹ sing Wycombe (as well as the middle-aged smart
arses, we¹re also in the vicinity of some teenage boys who appear to have a
mother fixation). ŒDo the circus know you¹re here?¹ respond the Daggers.
ŒThey should do, you¹re in it,¹ yells one of the mother-lovers, about thirty
seconds after the moment has passed. Come back and do proper banter when
you¹re old enough, sonny...
Having taken the lead, Wycombe simply shut up shop. The only excitement
comes when one of the assistant referees pulls something and has to be
substituted for the fourth official. Though Dagenham deserve something from
the game, they don¹t get it. I haven¹t been particularly impressed with the
way Wycombe have played, but it¹s safer not to say anything, in case they
play a collective blinder next Monday. We shall see.