That's the good news, the bad news is that this performance from the Robins was as anaemic as any I've seen this year as they stretched the streak to five games without a win. We visit Aveley on Monday night, who have lost their last five games and three points is a must to maintain a respectable gap from the relegation places ahead of our Trophy trip to Lincoln.
So what of Bury? The train journey, sans velos, was pleasant enough and Bury St Edmonds itself is a gem of a town. We found the elegant Harriets Tearooms (http://www.harrietscafetearooms.co.uk/) where the waiting staff wear traditional period uniforms and the food is resolutely English. A jolly spiffing time was had by all and the bangers and mash with two slices of bread and butter earns Harriets a 9/10.
On, via a swift half in the Nutshell, the smallest pub in Britian apparently, to Ram Meadow and another dreadful Robins performance with no team spirit, a total of two attempts on goal and any number of players doing the bare minimum to pick up their bloated pay cheques.
The details will be available elsewhere but suffice to say that Bury barely got out of first gear and were first to every ball and won pretty much every challenge; Tom Davis was booked again and Luke Nolan looked much happier when he was pushed up to right midfield.
A special mention to supporter Gary Chadwick who was the only fan on the players / officials coach and he cut a rather lonely figure behind the goal. He still outsang the Bury fans though! Those Robins officials in the small stand were treated to a small amount of drama at half time when the charming Carshalton manager/owner Paul Dipre was involved in the following exchange with one of the few fans who had made their way to Bury:
Robins supporter: "Are you learning, Dipre?"
*Dipre stares at fan*
Robins supporter: "You'll get better."Dipre: "Prick."
*Gasps from assembled fans in stand*
Mr Dipre clearly channelled some of his aggression into the half time team talk because the second period performance was slightly better, espcially when Ricardo Joseph came on and allowed Nolan to push forward. Dean McDonald also showed some nice touches as usual, but is still looking far short of being ready to actually start a football match.
A visit to the club shop produced a decent pen in club colours, very reasonably priced at 50p and it came with the usual helpful "check to see if it works". Tremendous. 9/10
Match score 2/10 plus one for extra prickage.
Total for Bury 21/30
Season so far:
Hastings 23
Bury 21
Margate 17.5
Canvey 16
Concord 0
Maldon -1
Post script
I have documented elsewhere (see my post 19th August) what fantastic things Paul Dipre has done for the football club in terms of youth and junior teams and developing the club in a modern and business-like manner. However, as first team manager, with a lack of experience at this level and seeming endless ability to upset people, I think we would be better served by him stepping aside and appointing a dedicated manager who is allowed to get on with the job of advancing this expensively-assembled squad to the next level whilst Mr Dipre runs the business and develops the club as he has proved he can do.
Some Carshalton fans may disagree with me and I respect their right to do so, unreservedly. Please be clear I am not calling for a campaign of abuse against Mr Dipre or the club. I want all Carshalton fans to get behind the club and celebrate its success, but I can't see that success coming with the present manager in charge.
There, I've said it.
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