14.9.19 - West Auckland (H)

The Bay had been unlucky, I heard. At Guisborough and Hebburn, they had lost by single goals with opposition goalkeepers performing miracles to keep them out. Today, against West Auckland, the Bay were going to win! West, on the same number of points, would be foiled by our influx of new signings from Norhallerton (Steven Hubery), Ashington (Scott Lowery) and Blyth (Craig Spooner).
In the last couple of weeks, Five new players had arrived to play for the Bay... and we'd lost three out of three. The worm could turn today? We could hope!

Fabulous photography provided
by the multi-talented Mr Programme Hall!

The sun was shining, it was short-sleeved weather and I was pleased to see Shanksy rewarded for his two goals with a place in the starting line up. There was some early hope but unfortunately new boy, Robinson, managed to get in the way of an early Lowery effort. Shanksy also weighed in with a couple of efforts. It was all going swimmingly then the inevitable happened. By the time half-time arrived, the Bay were 2-0 down, and cleared two efforts off the line. The Bay's best effort had been an almost-own-goal. There was too much head-shaking going on around the ground from the home faithful.
The two highlights so far had been, an x-files type cloud formation...

I want to believe!

... then the Bay clearance of the season, that ended up with the ball bouncing off the top of a floodlight. Hopefully, it didn't knock out any of the £500 bulbs or there might have to be a new fund set up to go with the new roof fund.

Into the second half, and West Auckland spoilt the afternoon by scoring. Shanksy didn't look happy when he was substituted for midfielder Orrell. It looked like it was damage limitation for the remaining 38 minutes.

Claire was not happy!

It was frustrating stuff for the players too, as my faithful camera took a swing.
Again, someone hadn't read the script, with most good things coming from the determined runs of our new Robinson, who was now showing some neat footwork. The lads suddenly woke up. Chances were being created!
Spooner's first effort was blocked but he managed to turn the rebound under the returning Tom Flynn's body.

Unfortunately, most guessed it was too little, too late. The game almost took an unexpected turn when Flynn's bar was left quivering before our ex-flying policeman had to soar smartly to his right to keep out a follow-up effort. His return to the Bay had sadly seen our former number one have a mostly quiet afternoon. It had indeed been too little too late.
We need to hope that last season's struggles aren't going to be repeated. Sadly, things don't seem to be going our way!