Those football gods love a laugh, eh?!

If you take a look one post down, you’ll see just how right I was (and JR for that matter).

Football has a stunning, almost predictable way of dreaming up these scenarios. As soon as I saw Inter Milan and Manchester United sitting together in the Champions League pot, it was obvious what was going to happen next; the chance to reunite Sir Alex and The Special One was just too tempting for the football gods.

And that was clearly how they viewed this lunchtime’s FA Vase draw too.

Now I’ve seen quite a lot of football, and I can honestly say the match up at Hillheads for last season’s Vase semi-final, second leg between Whitley Bay and Lowestoft Town was the most dramatic game I have ever been at. It was incredible just watching it unfold.

The tension and foreboding that played out before kick-off and in the first 20 minutes, followed by the knife edge the rest of the game proceeded to take place on, rounded off by scenes of touching jubilation from the Trawlerboys’ at their Wembley dream being realised.

We may well have to go through it all again.

That said, this year will be a very different contest, if not less interesting. Whitley were a very good side last year and they look it this year too.

However, Lowestoft are playing at a different level to where they were 12 months ago. The team that lost its legs late on under the famous arch is fitter, stronger and more determined than ever.

With the two legs reversed – Lowestoft travel to Hillheads seven days before the return fixture at Crown Meadow on April 4 – the tie promises to be as intriguing as they come.

Speaking of gods, they must have really taken a disliking to Norwich's sporting heroes before the weekend. Jon Thaxton had a tough time on Saturday and took a bit more punishment than he would have liked. Sadly, I doubt Barry McGuigan’s advice on Jono’s age and the closeness of the bout were considered by the hardened judges.

And all that after the Canaries suffered an unbelievable afternoon. Professionally, Saturday was grand watching Lowestoft demolish Bideford and march on into the last four of the Vase.

But as I looked at my phone for the final scores elsewhere, the City fan inside me felt crushed.

Still, it was so bad, maybe it was rock bottom? Maybe the rest of the results for the season will go Norwich’s way – starting with six points from their next two away games?

There will be plenty of time for ‘what went wrong’ stories during the summer, so for now I’m sticking to blind, ridiculous optimism. It feels better than misery.

posted on 02 March 2009 14:04 byMichael Bailey - Sportsdesk

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