10.10pm: 1-1, full-time. All to play for in the MI Cup group. Well played lads, 1pt on the board, could've been better but could've been worse! One final meaningless stat to finish with: October 2009 has been the most active month yet in terms of blog posts: 32 new entries this month, beating the previous record of 31. Thanks to everyone who's posted and if anyone out there who hasn't posted before would like to do so, give me a shout!
9.59pm: We've been under pressure for most of the second half apparently, but as Luke answered the phone just then we almost scored. On one of our counterattacking moves, Joe attempted to chip the keeper, whose 1oft height (apparently) enabled him to just tip the ball over the bar.
9.40pm: As well as the crucial points in the MI Cup that are at stake, there's a meaningless statistic now hanging in the balance - we've never previously lost to Grafton Strollers. There are precious few teams about whom I can say that, and certainly none that we've played as often as we've played Grafton. I think this is the sixth or seventh time we've played them and we've won all but one of our previous encounters, the other having been drawn 1-1. With 18 minutes to go I don't think any Accies player would be prepared to settle for the draw...
9.35pm: 1-1. Free-kick came in and was parried away by Junior, but a Grafton player was first to the ball and headed it, I think, in. Subs news: Luis came on for Joe and Phill came on for Dave in the first half. Mickael has just gone on for Greg.
9.30pm: Update from pitchside - Neil G received a cut to the head just before half-time, but is playing on, Terry Butcher/Paul Ince-like. We're currently under a bit of pressure, but we're holding firm.
9.23pm: Might phone TBALT for a match report so far, as the tension is starting to get to me. We're possibly 37 minutes away from 3pts in the MI Cup. Must find out where and when Grafton vs Mott is taking place in case it's convenient to attend. Could be a crucial match in determining whether we progress to the Quarter Finals. In the interests of keeping the footy cliches coming, I should point out that if we do manage to prevail tonight, our destiny will be in our own hands. Wahey.
9.09pm: 1-0!!! Simon Mesner. Long ball forward, headed flick-on from Greg Rainey and Simon ran on to it and slid the ball into the net. 1,000, just done it! And with that goal the Accies No 10 moves level with Gary White as top all-time 11-a-side goalscorer for Effra Academicals with 31 goals. And one closer to Thorny in the race for the 2009 Golden Boot - Lex has 11 and Shaky is now knocking on the Green Door in This Ole House behind which the Golden Boot is being kept, that analogy really doesn't work... anyway, Simon has 10 goals.
9pm: Well, we still await the 1,000th Accies goal (perhaps, like the first ever Accies goal, it'll be an OG?) but at least we can safely say we're doing better than in our first MI Cup group game in 2008. I think we were 3-0 down by now.
8.50pm: Junior in goal, Phil C at RB, Dave and Lee CB, Neil G at LB, Perre RW, Andy T and Sam CM, Joe LW, Greg and Simon up front (Greg playing "off" Simon. Bench: Luis, Phill A, Mickael. 0-0 after 20 minutes, the passing is "a bit scrappy" but " we're trying to play football".
8.40pm: Will there be a cup upset? I wonder.
8.30pm: First Contact has been made with a crocked player, a Mr Luke John Fallon, no 14, who is unsure as yet of the starting line-up on account of still being on a bus to the venue. He's "a few minutes away" and so, therefore, is any useful information.
8.23pm: Am now unsure of who, pitchside, will be providing me with info, because my usual reporter, Dade A, is in EN8 and is, in fact, the "you" that the previous sentence refers to. Shall wait until after kick-off and start badgering injured Accies.
8.20pm: Hoping to bring you (who am I kidding? There is no "you") the starting line-up soon.
8.11pm: Son and heir is now upstairs with the Board Of Directors. They're watching something called The Restaurant together. Feel free to contact Social Services. Before the next Accies tie I am going to have to run and/or swim off the 32oz steak I ate earlier today, otherwise I may resemble the cow I just consumed.
7.57pm: Am feeling slightly less guilty about missing The Big Match as I am actually a poorly chap - the usual throaty virus - so I'd have been a bystander tonight even if I had made it to Palace. Am intrigued to know the starting line-up and cautiously optimistic about our chances tonight.
7.53pm: This one won't be easy because the son and heir is still wide awake, having been allowed a major lunchtime kip in order to ensure total cooperation and cuteness out for an early evening meal with Nanny and Grandad Dade, Uncle Rick, Aunty Jenny And Cousin Bump. So his finger is literally on the mousepad as I type, making this a tricky task...
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