Half-time heaven

Pies and Perfect Pastry

Millwall: Dean Domerecki writes: ‘Pukka Pie, Steak and Kidney £1.80 (sans kidney), pint of Courage Best £2.10 (traumatic day, traumatic journey). Both horrible - the pie came in its own wrapper, in which it had apparently been beaten to a soggy pulp beforehand, and the beer you would have taken back to the bar if you were in a pub. Unforgettable.’

Conwy: Paul Lindsay stated: “I had a coffee - can’t remember the price but it was OK. The service though was very slow.” James Morris remarked: “I tried to get some food but the queue was totally static and they didn’t seem to be serving anyone. I had some chips in Conwy town centre before the game though - they were cheap but far too salty.” Peter Davies explained: “I got hungry halfway through the first half and wandered round to the catering caravan but there was a massive queue and it was outrageously cold and I didn’t fancy standing around for 15 minutes getting even colder. So I contented myself with a pre-match lager and a half-time lager.”

Oldham: Emma Pritchard stated: “There were cheese and onion pies available but I went for the potato and butter pie - a really novel option. My pie was hot and filling. The pastry was really crisp - not dead soggy like it sometimes is. As I said, the pie was hot - but it didn’t burn my mouth off. I’d say it was just right. I had a bag of chips with my pie as well. They were proper potato chips and I really liked them: 90p and no complaints.” Jenny Cantwell added: “I went for the potato and butter pie as well. The one I had was extremely filling and had an intriguing peppery taste. I passed on the ketchup, but at £1.10 it was very good value for money. I think I actually heard Kevin Dearden’s tummy rumbling in the first half - and I’m sure he would have enjoyed a potato and butter pie or three.” Dean Domerecki stated: “Meat and potato pie and coffee, can’t remember the price as that part of my brain had shut down in the cold to preserve more vital processes. Very tasty, though, but the pie did have an unwelcome structural defect that for a couple of minutes made not dropping large bits of it onto the bloke in front’s head more riveting than the match. Second Division football - less interesting than a hot pie. Surely not.” Peter Davies commented: “My cup of bovril cost 80p. It was warm and much needed on a typically Arctic Boundary Park afternoon. I’ve had better and I’ve had worse.” Paul Lindsay declared: "My ‘Ashies’ meat and potato pie was very tasty - the usual high standard and good value at £1.10. My hot chocolate cost 90p . It came in a large polystyrene mug and was a very nice flavour. Better value than Racecourse hot chocolate.”

Preston: Dean Domerecki opined: “Cheese and Bacon Burger £2, pint of Thwaite’s £2. Burger showed evidence of the appropriate constituents, but wasn’t very hot and so loses points. Also, the bread in the bun was soft on the outside but crisp on the inside - how? The Thwaite’s was unexpectedly good, not like the fizzy rubbish you usually associate with “smooth flow” (ie. very compressed and very dead). In fact, it was so good that I decided to have another pint. In March.” Peter Davies declared: “My cup of tea (90p) was lukewarm, over-milky and left a very unpleasant after-taste.”