REDEMPTION!

Our regular reader will recall my shameful profiteering from the gut-wrenching recent injury time defeat to Bromsgrove where the footballing reverse was personally cushioned slightly by winning dirty money by betting against the Poppies.  I guess I still feel bad about it.  It could be guilt I'm experiencing if all emotions hadn't been worn down to a nub through decades of being used and abused by the Poppies.

Anyway.  On Tuesday I believe I achieved a small amount of redemption for my previous act of betting falsehood.  At 2-0 down at home to Rushall I put a bet on the Poppies to come back and win.  Annoyingly, I didn't have much cash in my online wallet, so only had £7.50 to put on my boys to complete a second-half turnaround.  I guess someone had banked most of their previous winnings....ahem...

I think we were worth a punt.  Despite being behind at the break the game had been pretty even.  Sure, Rushall looked slick on our suddenly fabulous pitch (!) but we were definitely matching them.  A quick goal at the start of the second half and who knows, the comeback might be on.....

The team were obviously keen to back me in my betting endeavours and for 25 minutes at the start of the second half ran riot and gave Rushall the kind of unremitting spanking that would probably be an expensive high-end extra at certain discreet establishments.  Suddenly we were 3-2 up and £70 notes looked to be heading my way.

The balance of the game grew more even for the last quarter, even more so when Coyle went for 2 rather innocuous yellow cards.  You will never have seen anyone move as fast as me to "cash out" my bet when we were reduced to 10-men.  I swear I'd banked £58.00 of the possible £70.00 between the ref fishing in his pocket for the red card and waving it at our bemused number 3.

The players, not realising I'd cashed out, and still playing for my bet, dug-in and got us over the line.  Thanks lads.  I couldn't do it with out you.

Next column - adventures at my first Gamblers Anonymous meeting -