Ginster's Paradise!

Charlton Athletic 2- Plymouth Argyle 0.

Yesterday, it would have been very easy to forget there was a football match involving two sides, such was our excitement over Chris Powell's return.

Most of the talk before the game barely mentioned the prospect of Plymouth arriving and being party poopers.

There were plenty of Plymouth supporters in the Rose of Denmark, resplendent in their 'Ginsters' branded shirts.
Imagine being sponsored by a pie company?
Yum Yum!

I turned up uncharacteristically early to take my place in the East stand. (Crispy and Hannah seemed shocked to see me.)

The crowd wasn't bad in numbers, but it was certainly too sparse to pass the large flag around the ground.
I can't be the only one who felt a little ashamed the stewards had to plug the gaps to stop our club emblem falling to the floor.

Everybody had their eyes focused on the tunnel.
Eventually the wooooooooooohs became louder and there he was, Chris Powell wearing a smart suit walking to the home dugout.

Unfortunately, that was the highpoint of the first half.
Waggy nearly managed to lob their 'keeper and the referee went off with an injury but ultimately the game was failing to live up to our expectations.

The second half started in much the same way but soon the floodlights came on, the crowd woke up and Charlton were 1-0 up in most fortuitous fashion.

A very dodgy Marcel Seip backpass, from just the same spot Christian Dailly performed his error at the last home game, gave Scott Wagstaff the opportunity to hare in on the goalkeeper, (who did seem to wimp out a little) and poke the ball into the net.

YEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! was the noise from two thirds of the ground.

Plymouth did have a few chances but most of their efforts went either straight at Rob Elliott, or seemed to trouble the ball boys more than the Charlton goal.
One rocket shot had everybody holding their breath, especially as Elliott was statuesque but it seemed as if it was likely to be Charlton's day as it scraped the paint off the top of the crossbar.

For the first time in ages, we didn't have the squeaky bottom injury time as home debutant Nathan Ecclestone wrote himself into Valley history, scoring a 'never give up' goal to put the icing on the cake.

The only thing left, was to clap the players off the pitch and to hum until Chris Powell came back to do another half hearted tunnel leap.
He obviously didn't want to be forced to do it after every win and tried to pass the honour back onto Rob Elliott but the crowd were having none of it.

All in all a good day. Three points and a clean sheet.
It's easy this management game isn't it Chris?

A Casual Rating
Yesterday was all about one man and a win.
The performance was secondary.
Having said that, we got a lucky goal and then a 'wonder goal' during a second half that felt like a proper game, compared to the first half snore fest.

I'm offering a welcome home Lacoste polo to Chris Powell and also to Nathan Ecclestone for his dream debut goal.

Ref Watch: We were lucky enough to have two referees yesterday, after the first one left the pitch as the game headed towards half time.
Both were adequate for tier 3 level.
 Neither made any match altering decisions though referee 'mark 1' did make an absolute howler when he gave Plymouth an unmerited corner.
He obviously realised his mistake as he blew for a foul in the box, as the ball was airborne, despite there being nobody nearby!
His early taxi did give us the opportunity to shout, "You're not fit to referee", which relieved the boredom of the first half.

After the game I went for a few drinks, then headed to Asda to pick up some essentials.
While walking up Victoria Way, a good 2 hours after the game had ended, I bumped into an away supporter wearing a Plymouth shirt who had locked himself out of his car.
We chatted a while as he waited for his recovery service.
I know he must have finally managed to get going as today I walked past where he had been stuck and his car was gone.

 I really hope his journey home improved when he finally got to leave SE7 as he seemed a pleasant bloke.