‘Don't Leave Home Without It’ Brighton 3-0 ITFC 25 02 2012

There has been a lot of fuss made about the banner unfurled by Ipswich fans at Brighton’s American Express Community Stadium, which read “Some things money can’t buy. Football isn’t one: The AMEX.” Pity they chose Barclaycards slogan, or was that a deliberate ploy?

I did make several phone calls during the week to see if I could get another ticket for Sharon but with no success, I couldn’t even get one to travel on the supporters coaches. So armed with my pack-up me, myself, I drove down to the South Downs on my own. 

The AMEX is a very impressive looking stadium and from the hills above, I think it looks like a spaceship landed in a field, Aliens coming to the rescue of the long suffering Seagulls fans! It must feel like heaven to them after being homeless for fourteen seasons following the sale of their Goldstone Ground, they had to endure ground sharing at Gillingham and then played at the Withdean Athletic Stadium with it’s temporary stands. Due to promotion and a waiting list for season tickets there are already plans to increase the capacity and they haven’t even completed their inaugural season. 

The only downside (no pun intended) is a lack of car parking at or near to the ground. I was advised by one of the stewards to drive to the Downs Hotel at Woodingdean and get on their “park & ride minibus” which is what I did.

Ipswich trying to extend their four match winning streak were on top early on and almost took the lead, Michael Chopra having his chip cleared off the line by Gordon Greer but Brighton took the lead after birthday boy Craig Mackail-Smith slotted Will Buckley’s low cross past Aaron Lee Barrett. Mackail-Smith almost doubled his tally soon after, hitting the bar with a close range header.

Ipswich had a goal ruled out after the restart when Chopra was deemed to handle Lee Martin’s corner before dispatching it into the net. The match was pretty much decided after the Seagulls took advantage of a poor Lee Barrett clearance which as intercepted by Liam Bridcutt, he laid the ball to Ashley Barnes who then curled a 25 yarder past the hapless keeper. Barnes put the final nail in the Town coffin two minutes from the end with another fine finish. In fairness it was a decent game, Brighton deserved their win although the margin is somewhat harsh on a decent Ipswich effort. There does seem to be a lot of momentum at the AMEX and I can see them building on the recent successes and landing up in the Premier League in the not to distant future.

The “park & ride” worked well after the game, I was back in the car within thirty minutes of the final whistle and home in under two and a half hours. I enjoyed my “Billy no mates” experience, it made a change, but I wouldn’t want to make a habit of it.

The banner