Any faint chances of a play off rattle were finally snuffed out as the team and around 150 Reds fans made their way to the Welsh border town of Shrewsbury on Easter Monday. After the Good Friday home draw and major hit to our play off chances it wasn’t surprising that the CTSA coach left base at 8.30 less than full for a change. In addition, it wasn’t a new ground for most- fans will remember a certain Mr J Akinde scored there last season. The Argus was full of faint play off talk but there was an admission that three points were critical. To be honest given our impressive away record and with them struggling at the wrong end I was confident of victory!

Expertly driven by Clarkes smooth progress was made up the now familiar M6 past Birmingham and then left through to Shrewsbury.  An impressive stadium greeted us just on the edge of town. If CTFC are determined to build a new home for us then Greenhous Meadow could be a good blue print. Ample parking and really easy on the eye. Mind you, as an arctic blast blew across the ground it was more ice box than Greenhouse. It’s the 1st April not the middle of January, when will it warm up!!

A very small group of us managed to find refuge in the home only stadium bar.  A really nice place to be honest; warm, packed and with around a dozen TVs showing Man Utd being knocked out the FA Cup.  I was very pleased that Ted and Chris had made it out of the freezer. It was really pleasant to spend some quality time  reminiscing about the past 6 months and some of the magical and some less than magical moments along the way. It was in here that I met the Shrewsbury Town Official Supporters Chairman Simon Moore. He said,”I have happy memories of the Broadfield and Redz Bar, your hospitality was brilliant!”

After a nothing sort of 1st half the game exploded into life early in the second half.  Home hero Tom Eaves drove home a 25 yard shoot to get the scoreboard ticking over.   His second was a stunner. He ran, feinted and dinked his way through our midfield and defence then coolly dispatched a lob over the advancing Paul J. It’s the sort of goal he might score once in his career and unfortunately it arrived just as we least needed it. We huffed for 20 mins and looked dangerous but the three points were up when Eaves completed his hat trick.

It was nice to get back on board and start heading south. Thanks to our drivers for another safe and comfortable transfer.

As our season draws to a close I don’t think there are many people who believe we have any play off chances now. Yours truly wont mention it again!  However CTFC and its army of fans can be very proud of their league one debut. We have been in the hunt all season and have played the game in the right way.  Also, lets not forget that we still have some amazing things to look forward to.  There’s our £5 trip to MK Dons, the  eagerly awaited trip to League giants Sheffield United, the home game against former FC Cup winners Coventry and a massive end of season bash when Hartlepool come to town. (Hopefully with us all wearing t shirts and shorts !)

Lets all enjoy the later stages of a successful season.