Glady Libs Exiles

Swindon Town - 2nd August 2015

Well here we are the football season is upon us again, I'm trying hard to forget the season just gone especially the 6-1 abomination at the hands of Stoke on the final day, on Sunday at least we have the chance to make amends on the opening day. Much has changed in the 11 weeks since, a new coaching staff, a new club captain, a new 32.5 million striker among 9 new players. first it was the final pre-season friendly away to Swindon Town.

I had to catch Murphy's Magical Mystery bus from outside the Arkles pub on Utting Avenue at 11:00 instead of Anfield Road due to the construction of the new Main Stand, on arrival to the stadium I inspected its progress it really is starting to take shape like a giant steel climbing frame and its huge roof truss which took two cranes to lift into position dominating the north Liverpool skyline, this time next year it should be ready for its grand opening.

The new Main Stand taking shape

I necked a swift bottle of Peroni with Margi in Arkles and had a quick catch up having not seen her since the 6-1 hammering, we crossed the road and bordered the coach. Dave Murphy the steward on board was standing in the doorway checking our tickets while occasionally checking his watch, apparently we weren't the last ones on for a change.

The coach was full surprisingly but with a lot of new faces, most of the usual suspects had decided on giving the trip a miss due to the fact most of the squad had been over in Helsinki playing HJK the night before, so it could well be a reserve side Brendan was testing out today.

On route to sunny Swindon

The drive down took just over 3 hours without a piss stop which Margi wasn't happy about, it wasn't the most enjoyable for her someone on a previous trip had decided to rip the air-con blower above her seat out so it was gushing cold air on her, Murph's survival skills kicked in when he plugged it with bin bag, he must of learnt that on his trip to Russia in 1995 when we took on Spartak Vladikavkaz, Bear Grylls must be shitting himself.

After circle-navigating the stadium twice looking for the car park while the driver spoke in foreign language to the Swindon stewards who seemed they didn't know their arses from their elbows we were sent back across The Magic Roundabout a quarter of mile to park at St Joseph's college, after a little stroll through the park we finally arrived back at The County Ground, next stop a piss and bevy in The County Ground Hotel.

Back across The Magic Roundabout... Again

On arrival at the beer garden at the back of the stadium we were met by a bouncer in his luminous hi-vis vest, "are you home or away"? "home mate" trying my best to make my accent sound farmer like... well we past a shitload of sheep on the way down. "Sorry mate no Liverpool fans", looks like my farming days are numbered. after explaining to the big fella that we hadn't stopped in three hours and was bursting for a slash he finally backed down and let us in.

Standing at the round mahogany bar waiting to be served while the bar staff tried their best to ignore us for about 15 minutes, now we were gonna have to double up. after finally getting her attention with the shout of "Two double Bacardi's and a bottle of Coke". Top tip for ya always start  with the short it gets their attention then follow it up with the "two pints of Carling, a bottle of Peroni, a ploughman's lunch and a partridge in a pear tree ".

The sun was cracking the flags so we sat in the garden overlook the ground with its giant floodlights it was the sight that we had been waiting for, the football season was upon us with the early starts, planes, trains and automobiles, the twists and turns, the happiness and heartache that comes with it, I couldn't wait for it to start.

The beer garden at The County Ground Hotel

We made our way round the back to the open ended Stratton Bank behind the goal, on route we heard we would be getting our first glimpse of new signings Christian Benteke and Roberto Firmino who were both starting the game. once through the turnstiles we were hit with the sun in our eyes, I knew I should of brought my Ray Bans, fucking British weather... oh well match programme at the ready.

Our POV on The Stratton Bank

Now to the match, Rodgers handed a start to 16-year-old Scouse youngster Trent Alexander-Arnold, skipper of the under-18s side. There was three Liverpool players lining up against the Reds, with young loaned trio goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux, defender Jordan Williams and attacker Kevin Stewart in the Swindon starting line-up.

Lucas Leiva released Firmino over the top but a strong first touch allowed Vigouroux to come out and clear out the ball and the player, leaving the Brazilian lying on the deck, welcome to English football, Roberto. However, it was Joe Allen who would be limping off after a knock forced him off after only 13 minutes, replaced by Joao Carlos Teixiera.

No Pyro, No Party

Benteke could have scored on 18 minutes. Firmino showed fleet of foot to dance down the right before playing square to Benteke, whose shot allowed Vigouroux to parry before Teixeira was seemingly bundled over as he raced to meet the rebound. the first half ended 0-0 with Emre Can enjoying himself in a central midfield role.

Three minutes into the second half, Benteke truly announced his arrival in a Liverpool shirt. With the ball dropping on the edge of the area, the Belgian controlled on his chest before swivelling and firing a thunderous right-foot volley into the top corner that left Vigouroux no chance.

Moments later, Benteke spurned a far easier chance when turning the ball over from six yards after good work from Markovic down the right. The Belgian then had the ball in the net again but was flagged offside from a Firmino pass.

Sloppy defending allowed Anton Rodgers, son of Brendan  to find the unmarked Jonathan Obika, who curled home an equaliser on 63 from the right-hand edge of the area. That was the cue for Benteke and Firmino to depart, allowing youngster Ryan Kent to enliven proceedings with some clever touches, not least when releasing Moreno in the area for a chance Vigouroux somehow kept out.

The goalkeeper was at fault three minutes from time when substitute Sheyi Ojo brought a long pass down on his chest and smashed a shot that Vigouroux seemingly had saved only for the ball to loop over him and drop into the net. It was a bizarre end to an entertaining game. Benteke's, though, was the only goal anybody was talking about.

Glady Libs - European Beer Connoisseurs

Swindon Town: Vigoroux, Thompson (Eckersley 55), Ormonde-Ottewill (Whittingham 80), Williams (Barry 88), Turnbull (Branco 62), Traore (Robert 34), Kasim (Balmy 84), Byrne (Brophy 80), Stewart (Rodgers 55), Obika (Marshall 84), Hylton (Dayton 72). Subs: Belford, Randall, Cooke.

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Bogdan (Fulton 67); Arnold (Cleary 58), Toure, Sakho, Moreno; Lucas, Can (Chirivella 76); Markovic, Allen (Teixeira 13), Firmino (Ojo 67); Benteke (Kent 67). Subs: Cleary, Maguire.

Att: 14,591