Sitting in the dimly lit bar a rough group of blokes intently looked at the clubs television screen, clutching their beers as the presenter started reading out the cup draw.
"Number 19 Chelsea v number 1 Arsenal. A London derby at the Bridge." The announcer stated.
"Come on pull us out, we need a good draw." Stated one of the men as he drained his glass.
"What number are we anyway." Another one asked.
"32 I think though I could be wrong." Muttered the barman as he poured another pint of lager.
The draw went on and on till finally "Number 32."
"Great a home draw." The barman yelled they all nodded in approval eagerly awaiting their opponents.
"Will play number 43."
"Fuck me not bleddy united, crap draw should be a good fight though." The group laughed as they contemplated the forthcoming game.
Watching the same draw although in a much more pleasant environment was Amy Weston and her husband Peter.
"Hey that's not so bad its only thirty odd miles away we could make that one." Peter mentioned casually. "Maybe we could get Alex and Lauren to join us."
"That sounds like a plan I will ask them tomorrow." She replied a little uncertainly she liked Alex but Lauren had a bit of an attitude problem and her mouth had gotten her into trouble on more than one occasion.
As soon as the draw was made the local police decided to make it an evening kick off on a Monday night and imposing strict alcohol bans and closing pubs near the stadium. They knew that the two teams had a history of trouble as local rivals usually do.
Lauren Cooper twisted her long blonde hair in her fingers as Amy and Peter went on about the cup game.
"I am up for it." Alex said with glee "Come on Lauren it will be a great evening out."
"Oh I don`t know Alex."
"Ah come on Lauren it won`t be the same without you." He implored.
"Okay I will come with you." Lauren sighed she wasn`t all that keen on football and didn't really want to go but she did enjoy the banter with other fans.
"You better watch that temper of yours though Lauren we don`t want to cause a riot!" Alex laughed he knew his girlfriend too well and felt a warning would be wise.
She in turn just glared at him their relationship was a little strained and his sarcasm allied with her temper wasn't helping.
The month passed quickly and soon it was match day. Surprisingly warm for a January evening so light coats were worn and the team shirts of blue and yellow topped off with scarves fitted the bill as they set off for the game.
Also preparing for the local cup game were the hardened thugs in the dingy club far enough from the ground to still be open but close enough to get there quickly, the four discussed their plans.
"Well you can`t beat football, a good bit of skull smashing washed down with pints of Stella followed by a good rut with one of the whores down Uni` street." Rex stated "my usual match day routine." He added with a laugh.
Mary the barmaid just rolled her eyes disapprovingly "You need a proper girl Rex not a cheap harlot you're better than that." She chided.
"Well Mary I just haven't met one yet and in this shithole place I doubt I ever will." He laughed.
The others nodded in agreement. "Well we best get going the plod will out in force tonight so we had best get in the ground in plenty of time." Rex added as he placed his green and white hat on his oversized head.
The four friends arrived in the city by train a short trip that lasted only forty five minutes surrounded by their fellow fans all in good voice. The gaggle of fans strung out on the walk to the ground passing little groups of the home support on the way.
Rex and his cronies passed the groups of the away fans heading to the away end and gave some of them some verbal, but keeping it tame as the police were, as predicted everywhere.
Rex was as surprised as everyone else when one of the female away fans gave them a foul mouthed tirade back.
Lauren couldn`t help herself caught up in the building atmosphere she jeered back at them "Fucking inbred scum!" she shouted and gave them the finger.
Rex laughed at the feisty blonde girl, if it had been a bloke he would have knocked her block off and passed on by laughing at her boyfriend's discomfort and her friend's attempts to shut her up. He watched the group, no competition no point picking a fight with them as a no contest is no fun. Although the two females would be useful for something especially the feisty blonde there was something about her, he dismissed the thought and led his group to the home end of the stadium.
"Jesus Lauren you trying to get us killed?" Alex said visibly annoyed.
"Aw chill out I was only giving them a piece of their own medicine" She simply said as they reached the turnstiles.
"Alex can you put my phone in your bag my pockets aren't that good." Lauren asked her boyfriend.
"Yeah sure princess." As he showed the steward their tickets and entered the ground.
The ground was a packed cauldron of noise the outnumbered away fans did their best to out chant the home fans as the game got underway.
A scrappy first half ensued neither side really getting into their stride then just before half time the home side broke down the left hand side of the pitch the winger sent a cross into the box, panic ensued a defender did an air shot and the ball fell to the home teams number nine and he sent it high into the roof of the net. The home crowd went loopy the noise levels raised dramatically.
"Aw bollocks, fuck." Alex held his head in his hands.
"Bloody useless need to pull themselves together for the second half." Peter declared the obvious and went to get a drink.
The second half started and the away team obviously had been given a rocket by their manager and attacked from the whistle. A tactic which soon had the home support fearing for their slender lead.
The atmosphere in the ground soon changed when the equaliser went in the chants between the rival fans containing more and more animosity. Lauren dishing out the verbal with the best of them.
As the time ticked away Alex looked at his watch "I hope we can settle this before extra time or we will have a job getting a train home.
Peter nodded "Aye it would be tight." He agreed.
The forth official held the board up three minutes injury time.
As the board went up a united striker ran through the middle, as the defenders got in a tackle.
The striker threw himself to the floor. The away fans and team appealed for the penalty. The referee obliged, "Cheat, cheat, cheat." Rang around the ground. The striker picked himself up gave a rue smile to his team mates and calmly placed the ball on the spot.
