THE PRECIOUS HOURS...

It`s early Sunday evening.  And right now this is how the Premier League table is looking following Southampton`s 4-3 win away at Aston Villa.  Carry on like this and the Saints could replicate the last time I can recall us being so high in the Premier League table.   From memory, that was about 20 years ago when Southampton beat Manchester United 1-0 in an early season game thanks to a very late James Beattie header.  Two things I remember from that euphoric time.

The first was manager Gordon Strachan`s reaction when being asked by a reporter what he was going to do to celebrate.  He replied that he was going home to switch on the teletext and stare at the league table all evening.   The second is that, in a fit of adult childishness, I drove home via Portsmouth so that I could career through the streets of our rivals with my Saints banner flying.

The bizarre thing is that if Southampton beat Newcastle in Friday night`s upcoming game, they will go top of the Premier League, if only temporarily.   The last time that happened was in the 1988/89 season! Perhaps a few more precious hours await.

A quick look at results for the other teams I`m following.  Let`s start with life at the other end of the pyramid, where Stoke Gabriel`s epic struggles continue in the South West Peninsula League First Division East.  A visit to Honiton Town saw yet another defeat for the Railwaymen - this time 17-2, but at least they have now increased their goal tally to five for the season (although they have now conceded 187, leaving them with a goal difference of minus 182.)   

Our street`s local hero Scott ("Eco-Friendly") Wagstaff was unable to prevent Forest Green Rovers going down 2-1 away at local rivals Cheltenham Town;  but then Whaddon Road is always a difficult place to go to.   Maidstone United clinched an impressive 6-0 win at home against Concord Rangers to go third in the National League South but I drew blank sheets in the search for the fortunes of Truro City and Fort William, nether of whom seemed to have a game this weekend.  As for Gillingham, perhaps it`s for the best that I make no comment on their current form, for fear of causing yet more anxieties for my next door neighbour.

But as I fast forward and round off this round up, thanks to other results in the Premier League,  Southampton have now dropped to fourth spot but those few hours in third were  precious indeed and bode well for a season that, for once, may neither bring the spectre of relegation battles nor, indeed, yet another assault on my own mental health wellbeing. 

I`ll call you if I need you, Nurse. Don`t wait up.