PAGET RANGERS 2 WALSALL 5

I’ve been in Panama dreaming of the cold weather in England (but not the place) while ‘sweating buckets’ in 100% (110% in football parlance) humidity!

With no time for research on my return, I rely on The Fox to pick a match for us on Tuesday night. I arrive back in Blighty to find the whole country under water, so the chosen ‘Plastic Fantastic’ option seems a very sensible one. Paget Rangers are at home to Walsall in the Walsall Senior Cup. The Saddlers also have an FA Cup game on the same night so I fully expect them to field a young side.

When we are nearly there, my travelling companion drops the bombshell that Paget filthy groundshare at Sutton Coldfield Town. This will be the third side I have seen as a ‘home’ club at Coles Lane!

I park in the club car park after paying £6 at the gate (£4 Concessions; no programme) I nestle in one corner behind a bus shelter-type stand to shield the Hoppermobile from car-damaging footballs. It is still raining, so I scuttle into the cosy club house for a warming cup of tea.

The lady at the counter hands me a small paper cup and asks: “Do you know how to operate the machine?” I glance to my left and notice a very expensive-looking monster on the counter. Whatever happened to a cheap and simple kettle?

The stadium is dominated by a huge grandstand down one side (behind the dugouts). The car park is situated behind one goal; the same end as the clubhouse and teabar. The bus shelter terrace is also here. There’s a covered terrace behind the other goal and a seated stand in one corner of the open terrace along the opposite side to the main stand. It has stopped raining, so I stand in the open opposite the dugouts.

Most fans seem to be from Walsall. Not surprisingly, the visitors are fielding a young side. When the match eventually kicks off (SEVEN minutes late!!!), the youngsters look quick, sharp and very skilful. Rangers do well to keep up with them during early exchanges. The home side go two goals down before pulling one back before half-time. It is a very entertaining cup tie.

After the break, it takes me four attempts to zip up The Fox’s coat. It’s a good job he doesn’t want to visit the gents!! We finally make it outside and witness the sprightly Walsall lads take apart the men of Paget Rangers. It really is a one-sided half, which sees The Saddlers score three more excellent goals. It is great to see their confidence grow during the half.

Back home, when reviewing my records (well I don’t have a programme to read, do I?!), I find no record of me ever having visited Paget Rangers before. I either haven’t been or I’ve forgotten to write it down. I really am hopeless but either way, technically, this was a new ground for me tonight (cue outrage from the purists!). Happy days…

PRE-MATCH INFO: 8.5, WELCOME: 8, FACILITIES: 7,

FOOD: 6, CHARM: 6, PROGRAMME: 0, HOME FANS: 6, MATCH: 7, OVERALL TRIP: 7,

OFFICIALS: 9.5, ATT: 86 (H/C)