Match Day v Eibar.
And so the end is near.
A long trip which has taken its toll but even so after a long enjoyable day Saturday I'm up blogging and batting the on-going ticket saga. One of the first down to breakfast I have time on my side.
As the gang regroup I have a further message that’s don't go to Jenbach.Thats it then. I had already made a contact with a bar in Kufstein not far away as that should have been venue of first match.
I arrange with coach driver who arrives early to stop en route then get us to destination around 3:30pm. Done and our very posh coach awaits.
Another picturesque journey gets us to our destination at 11:40am where we have a steady Sunday afternoon with some partaking in food.
We give Harrogate lads a lift to ground and on approach we are ushered in.I say to the driver; ‘they think we are the team’ (they did!).
Eibar team followed us in.I bet when they saw the size of us walking past them they thought this will be easy.They sussed us too late but still had to pay in.
A sausage for me to soak up the bad beer.I’d sorted the programmes and sold a few at ground to regulars.
My namesake Michael Hewitt from Vine was having his birthday so we went in search of something stronger and found Jägermeister to do the salute.
All the faces you would expect are there with 100 being around the total plus 2 Eibar fans. They had played Watford the previous day and the Leeds fans outnumbered Watford which must have embarrassed them.
Tommy tourist had been to an Austrian regional league game and was happy to tick off the grounds.
We had a good peg in the bar area and watched Eibar go past us at will in the first half.
Right back at left back when do we learn? Green in goal and in first minute a shot on target is past him. Seen this type of goal with Green before. Jansson having a struggle at back with him being at fault on goal 3.
Bad view for goal 2 but looked clearable.
Oh dear the Leeds fans are shell shocked. New players show nothing Saiz and Anita (one good defensive header). This is only a mix of first team and fringe Eibar. Wood should have done better with a lob and we went in half time with tails between our legs.
Second half and we introduce OKane, Roofe, Hernandez, Alonski and you can see the game changing. It is coming and it did with a right-wing cross, Wood should have buried but a good save straight back to him. Wood reacted quick and in off keeper’s body. Game on. We are lifted and see the tempo Improve.
A tight angle shot from Alonski it’s 3-2 we have goal music, please no! We tried to get a third but in the end a header that they should not win and Green could have done better makes final score 2-4.
Some positives there but we need centre halves with experience and a left back, it's crying out for a solid backbone.
Time for home. Our coach had been put in the naughty boy corner facing the wall. We escape and it's a quite trip to Salzburg. Our driver gets a tip including the Harrogate lads, Snod and Jimmy and ours he got more than his wages!
A low key last night with an average meal in the hotel and a beer. Home tomorrow it's been a good trip and I would like to thank the cast.
We have been doing this a long time now together. Until next year,goodbye.