From time to time you hear managers talking of a player selection crisis. Stuart Gray was short on numbers due to injuries and suspensions recently. Sometimes Premiership managers moan they only have three millionaire strikers available from their small squad of 40 and sometimes these managers moan about having to playing a wet or boggy pitch or that they have to set off early to kick off at midday.

Well the obstacles that the Shoemakers faced for our trip to Crewe on Saturday 17th November far outweighed any of the above problems. First of all, due to high admission prices at a number of grounds this season, the number of travelling Cobblers fans has reduced. Secondly, due to injuries, we were further down on numbers, leaving a squad of only eleven and no goalkeeper. Two lads even agreed to travel to Crewe just to play the morning game.

We had an early start, 8.15am meet at Sixfields to make the trip up the M6 (I was late again so had to bare the brunt of the jokes). After a reasonable journey up the motorway, we arrived in Crewe on a crisp morning and met up with the rest of the team, who'd travelled from Milton Keynes, and the opposition at around 9.45am. They showed us to the changing rooms, which left us in a state of shock. It was an old cricket pavilion with two rooms, the away room was littered with junk including the line marker, a gazebo, some goal nets, a range of chairs and benches and a bottle of Brown Sauce (a match day essential).

The pitch was boggy and heavy after torrential rain in the week. Forward Richard Fletcher kindly agreed to go in goal and defenders Ant Collett and Simon Sidwell played in midfield.

Despite having the odds stacked against us, we actually took the lead early on. Ant Collett powered home a header at the far post following a Simon Sidwell free kick. The two defenders playing out of position combined well.

That was a good as it got on the pitch unfortunately, Crewe lead 2-1 at half time with Fletch, the stand in keeper pulling off a string of saves that out regular keepers would have been proud of (even Mark Bunn would have applauded him).

Two early second half goals due to defensive lapses gave the home side a 4-1 lead and a collapse could have been imminent. But the Shoemakers dug in a started to play with heart and pride, after all, we'd travelled a long way for a game of football, so we might as well enjoy ourselves. No goals further goals followed but the game ended with a smiles all round. We didn't win a football match but we certainly won some friends.

The Crewe team applauded us off the pitch following a hearty finish to the game and the following feedback that was posted to the IFA League speaks great volumes for the Cobblers Fans Team.

Thanks to Mark and the Northampton lads for making the journey up to Crewe for what I thought was the most enjoyable games I have played in for quite a while. There was not a bad challenge or crosd work said throughout the game. A special mention for the Northampton goalkeeper because he was excellent throughout. Northampton are a brilliant set of lads and we will be endeavouring to return the fixture later on in the season.

Team - Richard Fletcher, James Averill, Steve Marley, Michael Harrison, Mark Kennedy, Ant Collett, Simon Sidwell, Tom Robinson, Luis Periera, Ian Errington, Dave King