Taking A Punt

One of the trips that we'd really been looking forward to in the run up to Christmas was that to Cambridge - it has been quite a while since we'd last played there and we've always enjoyed the pubs. But as with most other fixtures that day, it fell victim to the wintry weather.

I decided the rearranged game was worth taking an afternoon off for - Liz agreed - and so we both met Howard at Bromley-by-Bow and drove to the game. And a nice quick trip it was too until we got lost on the Cambridge ring road which has a dearth of useful signs.

It was about 2:30pm when we pulled up at the football ground where, unlike Luton, there is plenty of street parking. I nipped into reception for my press pass and then we got a taxi into town.

We were dropped off on Mill Road where we'd intended to pop into Bacchanalia - an excellent off-licence we'd visited before. But it was shut - the owner away on a tasting apparently. Curses!

Howard and Liz then walked into town whilst I wandered off to the Cambridge Blue which is one of the town's most well-known pubs.

But I was to be thwarted once more - the lights were on but it was closed for refurbishment!

(left) Devonshire Arms - at last an open pub!

There were two pubs left on my list - and I knew one of those didn't open until 5:30pm - so it was off to the Devonshire Arms. Thankfully it was open.

This boozer looks small from the outside but is quite large inside and it is soon clear that this is part of the Individual Pubs chain which includes the Pembury Tavern in Hackney and Coalheavers Arms in Peterborough.

At the bar there are a number of beers from the nearby Milton Brewery - Mammon, Sparta, Pegasus, Tiki and Minotaur - as well as two from Slaters, Top Totty and Haka, plus a mild from Banks & Taylor, the Black Dragon Mild.

The place is fairly quiet and I have a few pints in peaceful solitude until I'm joined by John Wilson. We get chatting to the barman who tells us a little bit about the place - apparently the pub in it's current guise has only been open a year and was a bit of a dump beforehand (as confirmed later by Ely Steve).

I get some pork scratchings - supplied by the butcher over the road, very nice- and the barman then suggests we try another snack. This turns out to be Snyder's Japapeno Pretzel Pieces which were new to me but they were simply lovely and extremely more-ish. Keep an eye out for them in your local Budgens.

Liz then pops in having bought a few things in Lakeland - she is very domesticated - and subsequently Ely Steve and Howard join us.

As we later prepare to pop along to the Live & Let Live just a few streets away, we hear from Iain Swalwell that it is not opening until 6pm. Well, we'll stay here - certainly not a hardship - and we wait for Iain and Paul to join us.

Aware that I've been drinking for a few hours I decide to set off in good time as Liz, Howard and I walk to the ground. This means I have time for a nice bacon roll (albeit £3) and a wander round before the game kicks off.

In goal for Cambridge was Simon Brown who we'd had on loan a couple of seasons ago but it was his counterpart who made the first impression on the game. Dan Burn had been harshly judged to have fouled a Cambridge forward after just seven minutes but Russell easily saved the penalty.

This seemed to encourage Darlo and we took the game to Cambridge with plenty of posession and forward play but little to show for it in front of goal. Chances were limited for Cambridge and it was nil-nil at the break.

(right) Goal-scorer Smith on defensive duty

It didn't take long though for that to change after Gary Smith headed the Quakers into the lead. A smart run through midfield by Verma who passed the ball wide to Brown who crossed an inch-perfect cross for Smith.

Darlington continued to make the running and had the bulk of the possession - at the back the defence kept the opposition at bay with another assured performance from Dan Burn.

Liam Hatch then broke through the Cambridge defence and almost extended the lead but keeper Brown managed to get a finger-tip to his lob and put the ball over the bar.

Cambridge had one good chance close to the end of the game but Darlo held out to claim a well deserved three points.

As we left the ground though all the talk was of the news that had come through from Darlington in the second half - speculation surrounding the holding company who own the ground and the story that the Echo were supposedly running tomorrow to say that they're going into receivership. Here we go again.

Of course this had all the usual doom and gloom merchants moaning and I made the decision to do my best to avoid the messageboard tomorrow.

John and Simon (Spyman) both joined us for the drive back to London, Howard seemingly confident of the route back but we soon got lost, due once again to the lack of useful road signs.

We did get back to London in good time though with Howard dropping Liz and I off at Bow Road and the others at London Bridge. Thanks Howard- we could get use to this chaffeur service...