25th April Crook Town (h)

Goodbye faithful season tickets!

The final game of the season had arrived and it was with a mixed sense of relief and anti-climax that The Boy Mark and I headed for Hillheads. The end of last season had seen as narrowly pipped for the League Cup in extra time against Marske and with a positive pre-season a good season looked on the cards: we'll not mention the 0-10 St Mirren game which I missed because I was on holiday (so it didn't happen). However a swift exit from the FA Cup and only one win in the first seven league and cup games saw the Bay drop to 16th. after that the lads recovered enough to rise to 6th but unavailability and injuries took hold and a run of good results ended with defeat in the Vase at home to Dunston for the second season running. Leon left because of family and work commitments and the team found it hard to get a win. Paddy arrived with thousands, slight exaggeration there, of new players but it still took time for them to gel. With improved performances if not results, the season was drawing to a close with the Bay in 14th playing the bottom team in the league, Crook, who had the unenviable record of having conceded 177 goals with a goal difference of -138. Surely we would finish the season off in style?
My first bit of excitement came from the Jarrow Roofing Twitterer who told me that their lack of roofing was not "Health and Safety madness" but rather an exciting development of new roofing for next season! Overjoyed that someone had actually bothered to read my blog and comment on it, the news about new Jarrow roofing helped me float to the ground. Must have a friendly there please fixtures secretary! That would be ace!

The programme itself featured the bearded wonder Craig McFarlane, who is still recovering from the tackle that broke his ankle at WA Celtic. His absence was another reason we had struggled to turn good performances into wins. Fingers crossed for his recovery and that he remains with the Bay. The talk before the game amongst our group was who would we love to return the following year and without exception Robbie Birdie Bird was top of everyone's list, Blandford was another popular choice along with Craig Mc.
The team had definitely been playing better recently so there weren't many that anyone wanted to see go. The area that did need to improved on was the attacking side of the team with Watling producing some great performances but lacking support and consistency at times.
Barely three minutes, however, Bird crossed and Watling scored: just to show us how much we needed the 28-goal man. Then, by the 18th minute Robbie B had shown how important he was to the Bay when he first drove low past the keeper then followed that up with a mazy run and drive into the same corner. As if to rub it in our good friend Chris the Owls fan, decided it would be a good idea to remind the visitors of their current goal difference so "-140" was duly shouted out. I am afraid the giddy excitement of being 3-0 up got to me. We also decided it was a good idea to copy our favourite youtube video of fans copying the linesman but you really need more than two of you doing it...

Just before half time, Watling added his second to round  off an excellent first half performance that was great to see. Also good to see was the return of the green goalie top which was just as well because The Boy Mark (TBM) was a tad upset that I had promised his financial involvement to my 'Buy the Bay Keeper' a new top scheme without consulting either him or more importantly his wife (or mine for that matter). Somebody needs to hide the old jersey....as well as get the team new strips!
Into the second half and when Watling shielded the ball in so heroic a manner that not even a combine harvester could have knocked him over, the ball ended up at Kempster's feet who managed to control and score. The impressive substitute Stanger then blazed over and first Watling was denied his hat-trick when a push by him was punished with a freekick and disallowed goal, then Robbie dribbled his way through the defence, beat the keeper but his weak shot was cleared off the line.
The final score of 5-0 didn't flatter the Bay but you had to feel sorry for Crook who go back down to the second division after an extremely hard season. The crowd for the final game of the season was a disappointing 262, in spite the offer that promised under 16s went free with a fee-paying adult.
Next season I would love to be cheering on Robbie, Craig, Alex and co to bigger and better things. The main objective is to keep these better players at the club and get new strips, obviously but whatever happens rest assured that come what may, TBM and I will be there with our new season tickets to cheer the lads on. #HTB and enjoy the summer.

The players take their final applause of the season: see you in July!

Finally: Good luck Glen Martin, the Bay's silver-headed physio. Enjoy your retirement!