Southampton 0-1 Nottingham Forest

It's Wednesday 4th Jan. I've just polished off a full English buffet breakfast in the company of 'friends to the stars' and anti-BREXIT campaigner Jitz Jani, at Shepherds Stone, on Stragglethorpe Road, near to Cotgrave, an old pit village. It's close to where, in 1990, Stuart 'Psycho' Pearce came within an inch of losing his life, when his car was wiped out by a seven tonne dustbin lorry.

A blue van tips up in the car park at 11.30 a.m. on the dot. It's being driven by Nick Dobney, who is also the Vice-Chair at Bottesford FC, a ground I need to tick off in the very near future. Nick's son, James, is sitting in the rear of the car with his mate, Cameron.

Tricky Trees fans are making the long 350 mile-round trip to Southampton's Saint Mary's Stadium, for what already looks like a vital six-pointer. I previously visited their old ground, the glorious The Dell, to see Lincoln City in a League Cup second leg tie back in 1988. I had to pick a mate up en route in Hastings and then got caught up in traffic in Brighton, where there was a Tory Party Conference. It was 1-1 by the time we arrived at the ground. There's little chance of missing the kick off today. By 2.30 p.m. we're parked up, a 20 minute walk away from the ground. 

The young lads have been fed and watered, after a Maccy D's pit stop, just off the A34. I visited Southampton earlier in the year, during my summer sabbatical. It was the day after the AFC Bournemouth v NFFC match, and a day before Day One of a County Championship match between Hampshire and Gloucestershire at The Ageas Bowl, which has the worst transport links in modern day history. I sniffed out a cracking pub that day, on the Quayside, called Dancing Man Brewery.

We swing by the Red Lion on the High Street. It's a CAMRA heritage pub and a Grade II listed building. We have a swift pint before heading down to Dancing Man, where one or two Forest fans are already congregated. I'm like a kid in a sweet shop. I plump for a pint of Clawhammer, which slips down far too easily. 

Teatime is spent at Stein Garten, a cosy, colourful German beer hall with Bavarian eats. We sink a few more beers and tuck into Schnitzel and Bratwurst. We're joined by a few NFFC die-hards: Martin Peach, Craig Farina and 'Blackie' who has caught the last train out of London before Mick Lynch's lads down tools again. 

Just shy of 3,000 away fans are housed behind the goal. It's an astonishing amount, particularly with it being just after Christmas, during a recession and on a school night. The atmosphere reaches fever pitch. The brass band, parading around the ground belting out 'When the Saints Come Marching In,' is drowned out by the 'Forest Massive', as is Faithless on the p.a. system.

Steve Cooper looks to have picked his strongest team. Johnson, Gibbs-White and their tireless, hard-working Nigerian forward, Taio Awoniyi, are lightning quick on the break. Johnson has already seen a shot cannon off the crossbar, when on 27 minutes they take a deserved lead. Lyanco sloppily gifts the ball to Johnson who hares up the pitch. The cross is inch perfect, falling to the onrushing Awoniyi, who blasts home from close range. "It's been coming," says the bloke behind me.

Southampton offer nothing apart from huff and puff, a prerequisite and the DNA of a Nathan Jones team. The highlight at half-time is 'On a Ragga Tip' by SL2, a breakbeat and hardcore group from back in the early 90s. A hat tip to the DJ, as this foot-tapper keeps my blood circulating. It's not a patch on the Carlton Town DJ set, as you'll see later.

The Saints confidence is shot to smithereens, as you would expect of a team who have taken a solitary point from a possible 18 available. Jones is animated on the touchline; it's like a crazy dance as his arms swing and swirl above his head in slow motion.

Cooper makes four changes, expecting it to be backs-to-the wall. They see the game out with some stoic defending. The fans are magnificent; their singing and chanting are relentless and noisy.. 'Come on you Reds' and 'Forest are Back' make the spine tingle, and help their team over the finishing line. Cooper is ecstatic. He beats his heart after the customary winning fist pumps.

Jitz bumps into hundreds of people he knows after the game. They all either embrace him or shake hands. I feel like Eammon Andrews with his 'This is Your Life' red book (one for the kids there). The closure of the A34 and M1 can't dampen our spirits or enthusiasm. "What a win" is repeated endlessly on the three and a half hour journey home. Thanks for driving Nick!

I've had a quiet Christmas. The run up was hectic. I've barely ventured out apart from watching the Mighty Millers (Carlton Town). I wandered down to Stoke Lane on Boxing Day afternoon. Big spending Worksop Town and their large following were in town. 

Former Lincoln City legend Terry Hawkridge played for the visitors. He famously scored two goals, at the fag end of the 2017 season, that put Danny Cowley's Lincoln City back into the Football League. He's so light on his feet that he could dance on ice in his wellies. He glided through the Carlton midfield, picking passes that no other player could see. 

Carlton started brightly, but class and cash won the day. Worksop forward James Hanson played in the League Cup final for Bradford City v Swansea City back in 2013. You'd want some lolly if you were giving up your Boxing Day at 35 years of age, wouldn't you?

I must give Coventry born and bred house DJ Alan Murphy (Head of the Supporters Club) a shout out for his clubhouse Terry Hall tribute DJ set, following the sad passing of The Specials and Fun Boy Three lead singer. 'Concrete Jungle' and 'Friday Night, Saturday Morning' were both included, and are favourites of mine.

Ms Moon makes her Millers away debut at Long Eaton on Bank Holiday Monday. Most of the lads are on the 12:02 to Beeston which conveniently drops them outside The Victoria at the back of the train station. I'm being a good lad. I'd only end up shouting at the ref if I had a few shandies. A wise move, as it turned out.

Some of the lads look worse for wear on arrival. I introduce Ms Moon to Nigel, Alan and DJ Dan. The ref kills the game and spoils it for the crowd on ten minutes. Nat Watson and ex Cammell Laird legend Jamie McGuire are both waved a Red card by the official Mr Fryer, when two two yellows would have sufficed. The die has been cast and the mood is now ugly and angry. The official dishes out more cards than Postman Pat.

The chances rack up and stack up for Carlton. But when you are down on your luck nothing goes your way. The game's best player, and Millers talisman, Niall Davie, is on the receiving end of a crude, wild and brutal tackle. A broken fibula and tibia prematurely ends another season for the luckless winger. To add insult to injury, Long Eaton take the lead on 44 minutes, through ex-Miller Jamie Walker.

The second half is scrappy and disjointed. The woodwork looks to have saved the home side until a lunge on Alex Howes, in the 96th minute, sees an under pressure ref point to the spot. 'The Carlton 62' are en masse behind the goal. My heart sinks when I see it's the 'keeper Mikey Emery that is placing the ball on the spot. He sends the Long Eaton shot stopper the wrong way, placing his spot kick into the opposite corner. 'The Carlton 62' are hugging, kissing and rejoicing with one another. It's a magic moment that feels like a win. I sit in my armchair smiling like a Cheshire cat for the rest of the evening.

A hastily arranged Friday Club outing takes place with the destination being Derby. Breakfast is taken with Tony Mac at the impressive GB Cafe on Sneinton Market. It's £6 return on the Trent Barton Red Arrow. Derby has a plethora of real ale pubs. We ticked off a dozen or so on our last visit. The best one today is Five Lamps, with its large range of cask ales. We return to Nottingham on the 8.15 p.m. bus. Some strong 8% DIPA craft ales are seen off at crowd favourite bars Junkyard and Jam Cafe. I'm tucked up in bed before midnight snoring like a good 'un.

Ms Moon misses out on the team coach (walk) to Stoke Lane for Carlton v Grimsby Borough on Saturday afternoon. Her granddaughter Bonnie is paying her a visit later. I call in to one of the all-time great Carlton chippies, Oceans, for a 'fish special.' I wander down Burton Road, past the Old Volunteer, hoovering up my lunch from a polysteyrene tray.

DJ Dan's matchday set is booming around the ground as I show my season ticket at the turnstile and bag what should be a Northern Premier League award-winning programme for £2. Well done to Joe Standen for a masterpiece of a publication and to all those volunteers who contributed columns too. The pre-match music is different gravy - sorry Oceans chippy.

Everyone seems chipper in the clubhouse after the last gasp equaliser on Monday. There were some sore heads and casualties after the all day sesh across at the 'Cattle Grid' (Derbyshire border). DJ Dan has been spinning his 7s. The playlist includes The Yard Act, Working Men's Club and The Cure.

The game isn't pretty on the eye; it's mainly down to a heavy pitch. Credit to the club for getting the game on. It's got 0-0 written all over it. In the second half Grimsby take the lead with the ball falling kindly to Brody Robertson to slot home. They put the game to bed after a flowing move down the right leads to a cross being swept home by the impressive 18 year old on loan Grimsby Town striker, Edwin Essel.

It's been a bitter sweet seven days of football for the Millers, who now face a relegation scrap to survive staying up at Step 4 Level.

Rest in Peace Malcolm Storer. A gentleman and all-round lovely bloke. I'll miss our chats.

Legendary Nottinghamshire groundhopper and charity fundraiser. Will be sorely missed by us all.