Darlo Got The Blues

As someone who can be a bit superstitious, especially when Darlo are not doing too well, I decided to try somewhere else for breakfast today - the Station Sandwich Bar & Cafe on Pentonville Road. A very good breakfast but would it bring us luck?

I caught a slow train to Cambridge and had virtually a whole carriage to myself - makes a very nice change and it is certainly the most peaceful journey I've had for a long time.

Chaos on arrival at Cambridge though where there was an almighty scrum to get out as it seemed the whole of the city were inside intent on buying tickets, presumably to somewhere else.

Whilst waiting for Tony's train to arrive I checked out the site of what will eventually be the Cambridge Tap - sister of the Euston Tap - just a few yards from the station exit. Something to look forward to next season perhaps?

(left) Steve, John and Tony waiting for the Cambridge Blue to open

A call from John W to say the Cambridge Blue didn't open until noon - despite what is says in the latest GBG - meant a change of plan.

Tony and I wandered off to a local butcher for some pies before meeting Steve, John and various other Darlo fans outside the Live and Let Live.

Due to open at 11:30am, it was opened with apparent reluctance four minutes late - inside there were only half of the hand pumps on and then one beer went off as the first pint was being pulled.

The remainder of the beers on offer were not the most appealing so we decided to give it all a miss. A shame as we have been coming here for years but it didn't impress last season and I think we'll give it a miss in future.

We then walked to the Cambridge Blue - with a quick visit into Bacchanalia for me so I can lust over various bottles of foreign beeriness - and had just a short wait before landlord Jethro let us in a few minutes early.

A mouth-watering choice on offer - Woodfordes Wherry, Elland Moonbeam Rider, Oakham Musashi and Inferno, Humpty Dumpty Swingbridge Stout and Swallowtail, Cottage Trident and Bank Top Barley to Beer.

The best of the bunch for me was the Musashi and the Moonbeam Rider which turned out to be a rye lager - very interesting but a tad fruity for Tony's palate.

It was my first visit here - other than an abortive one last season - the front of the pub is very traditional whilst the new extension - leading to a large garden at the rear - was quite obviously recent but still matched the rest of the pub.

There were quite a few DAFTS here today - Colin, Neil and family, Ely Steve and Huntingdon Mark who were meeting Paul and Mags and then the Darlo beerhounds - Rich, John and Andy.

We decided against the long walk to the ground and took a cab - annoyingly it was a little tardy and then took us on what seemed to be a roundabout route.

(right) Walshaw celebrates but he was offside

Despite our worries we were there about fifteen minutes before kick-off - plenty of time for me to collect my pass.

No time to have a chat with anyone before kick-off though - only just long enough to get my gear out and take a few practice shots. A nice sunny and no sign of rain - just right.

Darlo were defending the goal at the away end and were soon under pressure - Ian Miller was out injured and was replaced by Sunchez-Munoz who looked a bit lost.

Cambridge applied early pressure and caused Sam Russell a few scares and it wasn't long before yet another cross was not picked up by our defence and left Michael Gash to head home smartly from about ten yards. Very sloppy.

Darlington came into the game a bit more - Chandler shot from the edge of the box and Walshaw hit the side netting but we conceded too much possession to the home side and can only have been grateful to go into the break just one goal down.

At the whistle, Mark Cooper was straight onto the pitch with the ball to give the referee the benefit of his opinion. Unsurprisingly the referee took exception and at the restart, Cooper was exiled to the unused half of the away end. Solitary confinement.

Darlington were not a lot better in the second half - Bowman replaced the ineffectual Purcell and put himself about to some effect but Rory McAuley in the centre of the home defence gave nothing away.

The only time he was beaten was when Greg Taylor hit the bar and then Walshaw prodded the ball into the net from close range but was offside.

Cambridge then extended their lead after an hour and that was about it. Campbell and Arnison were brought on but it made no difference - the game was up. Goodnight Vienna!

After the final whistle we walked back across the fields - careful to avoid the cowpats - and made our way back into town.

(left) Cooper making his feelings known

Sad to see that the Greyhound pub - which we used for a pre-match boozer for many years - is now boarded up and closed.

Tony and I made a quick detour to pick up some bottles from Bacchanalia - some Belgian and US saison beers for me - before joining the others in the Devonshire Arms.

A few Milton beers - Sparta, Minotaur, Pegasus and Nero of what I can remember plus a few guests, White Horse Village Idiot and a couple from Wentworth, WPA and Lemon. The Sparta though is one of my favourites and it didn't disappoint whilst John W found the vanilla taste of the Nero a bit too much.

Neil and Mari joined us with son Martin who tried to climb around the pub when their backs were turned - a right little devil - where does he get it from?

After a couple of pints it was time to wander back to London - thankfully an express service which took just forty-five minutes. Cambridge as ever was a great place for good pubs but the poor performance really put a downer on the day.