Missed Me Shot

Chelmsford City 1 v Hemel Hempstead Town 2

National League South (Step 2)

Monday 4 September 2023

Ground Tick 447

I'm pretty sure I missed my shot there. Pretty sure. My logistics meant that I got to Melbourne Stadium, home of Chelmsford City, and my 447th Ground Tick, rather early. Through the turnstile, past the raffle table, past the club shop hut, past the programmes. I found myself at The Wheel 'Em Inn. A shed festoonigated with Chelmsford Brew Co. banners.

Now, if you've been following this Blog closely over the years, you'll have made your own lists of the beers I've sunk. So, you'll know I've NEVER had one from Chelmsford Brew. The set up was slightly odd. Two handpull pumps on the bar. And two keg taps on the font. The handpulls were not labeled. Clipless. I had a really good look. They were both connected up to Casks with cooling jackets around them. So, somebody had tried to get summat ready. But, those never came on all night.

One of the kegs was some German Lager and the other keg had a brightly coloured - ooohhh I'm Craft Keg - badge that I couldn't quite make out. So, I asked, and confirmed that was the only Chelmsford Brew on. Now. As I said. I was early. So, I fancied buying that one just before kick off, finding an out of the way seat, and drinking that while I watched the first half.

So, I went back at twenty to. Confirmed that the handpulls had, mysteriously, still not come on. And was also confronted by Rooster's, Twenty Four Seven, Session IPA on the Keg line. Fuck Sake. Lovely beer. But, the Carrier Bag Firm were (natch) after the home ground Chelmsford Brew. Which I could have grabbed earlier. And, which had now gone off.

Pretty sure I missed my shot there!!!

I had pre-loaded at the still excellent, but a little more chaotic each time I go in;

The Ale House

24-26 Viaduct Rd, Chelmsford CM1 1TS

While I was being served, members of staff were being bollocked for spending too long on fag breaks, the credit card machine had fallen to 2% battery, so someone else needed bollocking for that. And, the glass I was served in was in a right fucking state. See. More chaotic than previous.

Arbor Ales (Bristol), Motueka, NZ Pale on Keg at 3.8%

Came up on Untappd as - No Longer In Production - adding to the chaos. But it was a nice, easy drinking hazer. With just a hint of salad leaf bitterness deep in the finish.

The Melbourne Stadium is an Athletics Stadium. There's sort of semi-permanent bits of terracing right behind both goals, inside the track. You have to walk around the Hammer & Discus Cage to get onto the uncovered end. And across the Shot Putt Circle to get on the covered end.

The covered end allowed the Hemel Hermits to make more noise in the first half. Before, as is traditional, both sets of fans swapped to the end they'd be attacking in the second half. The Hemels made full advantage of the extra reverb the covered end gave them to keep up continued verbal abuse of ex Blade Samir Carruthers - who was appearing as No. 10 for Chelmsford.

I see from his Wiki that as well as being ex Blade, Samir is also ex Hemel Hempstead Town. He played 26 games for them. I'm not sure if tonight's abuse heaped on him was because of something he did or said during his time at Hemel. Or, more likely I feel, he was just getting the customary - former player bollocking. Anyway, he was subbed at 63. To horrendous abuse.

Actually. It was quite lively on the terraces. There were three Plod very visibly in attendance. One Dedicated Football Officer (according to the badge on his flak jacket). And two Operational Football Officers. As well as very visible steward security. Who wasted no time in piling into the Hemel end at any opportunity.

And, they had plenty of opportunity as the game turned Hemel's way towards the end. Chelmsford were one up on 53. On 75, Helmel were awarded, and equalised from, a penalty at the Hammer Cage End.

And, deep into eight minutes of added time, another penalty was banged in to give them the win. Cue nervous twitches from the two types of Plod and the stewards. Still no fucking sign of those Casks coming on either.

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