24th March 2015 - West Auckland (h)

Will the pot of gold be in Hillheads once more?

It was a low key visit to Hillheads for the visit of West Auckland. Our record against them hadn't been great so when the Boy Mark picked me up we weren't too optimistic. However the performance the previous Saturday suggested we would not be humiliated. There was hope of a new phase beginning for the Once-Mighty-Soon-to-be-Again Bay when a full rainbow could be seen the day before the match above Whitley. It had to be a sign! There was more excitement for the fans entering the ground (well me) as the usual fare of 60s hits blaring out of the musical soul-destroying tannoy had been replaced by eighties hits: namely my favourite Smiths track Big Mouth Strikes Again followed by a more mellower Bob Dylan. It was also nice to see the referee and linesmen had coordinated their hairstyles: all three bald as a coot! Don't try that one Lucy!

Yet again the modest crowd looked just over 200, which was a shame, given the improved form and standard of play. There was a surprise change in goal, with McCafferty replacing Flynn (a response to Saturday's flap-gate?). Also Robinson returned to the starting line-up for the first time since being injured: a reward for his part in a late fightback against Guisborough? Despite the error for the Guisborough winner, Flynn had performed heroics at times to keep the Bay in the game so it looked a bit harsh if that was the reason he found himself on the bench.

Bob and the Boy Mark go crazy after Robo's wonder strike!

The Bay took the game straight to the visitors right from the start and there were the trademark quick passes out of defence and with Birdie and Kempster causing problems on the wings, things were looking good. A shot was cleared off the line and the West keeper had to be on his metal to keep a number of great shots out. There was joy amongst the 255 crowd when Robo made a nifty turn before spectacularly finding the top corner of the net! The Whitley workrate was phenomenal but it was hard to see how they could keep that up in the second half. Also hard to fathom was the new craze that was beginning to appear at Hillheads of men wearing shorts in the cold evening. These were not athletes who had just popped in on the way home from their run, practice or match. No! These were deliberate attempts to pretend that Summer was here and could only end in hypothermia and manflu! Never mind the fact that they were, on the whole, the most horrendous collection of faded 70s fashion wear. No! Men of Whitley don't be tempted again! Not even if it is Summer: not with those legs!

Take it like a man and
drink your bovril!

As if to prove their disapproval of the whole fashion shorts situation West scored. The ball was slotted through to their number nine, Matthew Moffat, to score against the run of play. Please not a Guisborough repeat show we cried at half time.
It was cold comfort that our brave group had avoided the shorts rebellion by wearing multiple layers as we supped our purchases from Tommy's Tavern. We were still freezing and West had been let back into the match. We were joined for the second half by Newly Neal, who I hadn't seen since our excursion to Blyth: hopefully a last minute opposition goal wouldn't by signalled by his arrival.
The second half looked ominous as West pushed forward with renewed energy but Whitley held firm and soaked up the pressure. McBride could have put us back into the lead when Robo played him in but his effort flashed over. It was at this point that the need for a new set of strips became obvious as Bob pointed out the size of Birdie's shorts in relation to the rest of his body. The drag factor alone was enough to stop him scoring and a new set of strips would mean an end to the legacy hanging over the club since visiting Wembley: four long years ago!
Food for the Big Coat Crew there?

And Farrell scores!

West were now turning up the screw and it was all hands to the pump for the Bay. However when we needed a hero, up stepped the Bald Bandido, Farrell: still not sporting a moustache. The hairless wonder took a pass from Robo on the edge of the West box before launching a sublime effort into the top corner (yes again) and in so doing avoided the outstretched hand of the West keeper Lowson: a bit too Low he was. (sorry best I can do).
This was still plenty of heart-in-mouth stuff, including McCafferty clearing the ball straight at a visiting striker without him capitalising but Andy Farrell personified the new spirit with his tackling and was rewarded with a friendly punch from a blue striped shirt after typically battling to retain the ball deep into injury time.
 The final whistle was welcomed and there was a warm fuzzy feeling around NE25 as the Paddy revolution gained momentum!
Getting home and tucked up in bed reading the programme with a cup of hot chocolate and a slice of cake, it was sad to read that the loyal face of Whitley David Hall would not be a feature of any more Bay games as he is moving to Malta. A big fan of everything Whitley and not a fan of my own past with Newcastle's Ice Hockey scene, it is sad to see such a loyal fan leaving. It must have been a good way to end his supporting career. He bid everyone farewell standing by the car park gate and I am sure we all wish  him a safe journey and good luck in his new life: it will certainly be warmer!

Well done Shields....

Well done North Shields for reaching the 2015 FA Vase final.....

.....there done it, but it hurt.

21st March - Guisborough Town

Bouyant boy!

The Paddy revolution had stalled slightly when the lads lost 3-2 at Morpeth. Today was another challenge for the Bay when second placed Guisborough arrived. The competition from the Big Toon people meant the crowd was down but 228 people still turned up and I was in a buoyant mood on the way to Hillheads. Things were on the up, I felt. Even better, the boys had managed to win the away game 2-1 in October. so a revitalised Whitley stood a great chance of getting a result at home. A quick check of the programme informed us that there would not be many bookings as we had our favourite, tolerant referess (thanks for that Paul Statto) Lucy May: who often preferred a good talking to: a little too often, maybe?
The first fifteen minutes of the game it looked like the Bay were the top two side and not the other way. With Andy Ferrell and new arrival (another? )Jake Richardson  marshalling the midfield and Blandford and Laws looking solid in defence we were sure this was to be our day. At this point the Boy Mark arrived, having just finished buying a new washer and tumble dryer....white ones apparently: nice! Watling and Bird had gelled up front and when Watters was put through on goal, he slotted majestically past the visiting keeper. Cue celebrations!

Go on... book someone Lucy for
breaking Alex's nose...

Not long after though there was drama as Kempster, who had been causing no end of problems received a blow to the face and had to receive treatment. He was soon substituted with a suspected broken nose, to be replaced by Mrs Norris's son: Sam. This seemed to blunt the Bay attack and Guisborough equalised from a great cross and header with half time approaching.

Moira - so incensed she decides to
 invade the pitch, slightly.

The second half started and I was showing more interest in my marvellous cup of tea purchased from Tommy's Tiny Tea Tavern when Guisborough were ahead. Apparently, the impressive Flynn had been caught in two minds. Catch? Punch? I'll wave at it instead he decided and we were behind. From this point on Guisborough did their best to slow things down and I earned  disapproval from the blue-coated Whitley Elders by telling him to "Get on with it!" No swearing, no derogatory terms...but not accepted Bay Behaviour, apparently!  People get a bit cross, especially when someone dressed as a radioactive lemon takes forever to release the ball...how about a card Lucy? No, best just encourage them to go a bit faster....of course... good idea.

Take your time lemon head!

After that the game drifted a bit as Whitley mounted occasional attacks with some great play but the final ball just wasn't there. As Town packed their defence, Paddy decided it was time to introduce Robo for his first appearance since....a long time: time for a Robo pinpoint pass!

The loyal Bellenders!

Guisborough still looked dangerous on the break and Flynn had to be on his toes to spectacularly save on a number of occasions and more than made up for his earlier error: including a spectacular 1 on 1 effort, saved with his feet.
It was also good to see the return of the Bay bell - chiming each attack: a little throwback to the good old days and sorely missed when it isn't there!
With the arrival of Robo, it was also a chance to judge the increasingly competitive Bay Beard competition with Craig Mc still leading the way in both bushiness and style...of course it would be great to see the fiercely competitive Andy Ferrell join in the competition and so become the Bay's own Tim Howard...just a thought but the competition is still running so keep those beards growing!

The final word almost belonged to the bearded maestro McFarlane when he exchanged passes with Robbie the Birdman and his effort was just deflected over the bar and onto the top of the net.
There was even time for a fracas of handbags towards the end, after which Lucy decided to pull out the cards: no wonder she finished the game soon after: obviously needed a lie down!

 A valiant effort but it was not to be. However we had played the team with the best away record in the league and been unlucky. There had been fight, determination and good football so things look extremely positive. The Paddy revolution rolls on!

Craig does the Matrix

Energetic lino

Birdie on the ball!

Beard envy from the boy Mark?

7.3.15 Whitley bay will be rocking tonight...sort of.

Dunston (h) Paddy gets his first home win. 

The game started in such a low-key manner. For the first home game since 2007, Paul Chow was not a member of the squad and it was a sad statistic that his last goal for the Bay had been the penalty he had scored in the FA Vase. A veritable legend had left the Bay...and not in the manner that a legend would have deserved. The man who had scored the fastest ever goal at Wembley and been Whitley's top scorer every season since he had arrived deserved better, however these are dark days at the Bay. So thanks Chowie for the memories of which there are many. It really was a blast. 

Meanwhile, the present day Whitley team, minus Chow, had won in Durham 4-3 but today we were up against sixth-placed Dunston, a team who had already beaten us 5-1 and 5-0 the previous season and twice this season - 1-0 in the league and 2-1 in the FA vase. This was a result that had proved to be a turning point in the club's management and personnel as Leon decided enough was enough and put his family first. Now we had enough new players to field 3 teams (almost...thanks for that idea, Neil). The day before kick off we had another three players signing Tom Flynn arriving from Consett, Andy Ferrell from Ashington and Sam Norris from Team North.

In the first ten minutes there wasn't much for Whitley fans to get excited about, with an offside against Robbie Bird being the only positive forward play. Therefore concern was focussed on the new Whitley keeper, Tom Flynn wearing a GREEN jersey rather than the mucky and depressing grey one we had been subjected to. He even had a 'comfortable save' to make to start his Whitley career from a backpass. 

There were two other concerns. The first was Paul the Statto's worry that the wind would turn out to be the MOM and as the ball swirled about in the stratosphere above Hillheads, it seemed that this concern would come true. The second was that the boy Mark was standing too close to the edge of the yellow line as he precariously rocked away on the paving slabs. Luckily, disaster was averted when he stepped back from the yellow line after realising the precariousness of his situation.

Too close to the yellow line!

Keeping a safe distance:
 Paul Statto and Claire

On the pitch newbie Sam Norris (was he related to Mrs Norris, Fitch the caretaker's cat in Harry Potter?) was taking every opportunity to shoot down the wing like a gazelle. Unfortunately just like a gazelle, his final pass into the penalty box was lacking as he either lost control or his pass was intercepted. The potential is there though...Unfortunately Watling still seemed to be stomping around the pitch, and was lucky not to booked when his disappointment at a handball in the Dunston penalty area led to him blasting the ball out of playing, narrowly missing the linesman in the process. To add to this, he had previously missed a one on one with the keeper. His effort being easily pushed wide by the Dunston number 1. He wasn't a happy budgie although his partnership with Birdie Bird up front seemed to be continuing to progress, despite the fact that Robbie, the smallest man out of the two and maybe on the pitch, seemed to be trying flick the balls on for the much larger Watling. Maybe a rethink is in order there, Paddy. Chris McD seemed to be enjoying a certain renaissance however and had a great first half until I mentioned the fact to the Boy Mark and he immediately messed up a pass. The half time whistle blew but I thought it was a bit pre-emptive for the tannoy to begin playing Thin Lizzy's Boys are Back in Town for the first time even though the Bay had managed to avoid falling behind in the first half.

The second half still featured the strong wind, as witnessed by the pigeon that tried to bank over the new stand and ended up being carried back across the pitch...it made me laugh anyway. The Boy Mark, however was getting increasingly frustrated by Norris' final balls, despite his great approach play, and had to be warned to keep away from the yellow line. It was a relief for him that the new boy was replaced by Michael Williamson, one of the earlier wave of newbies who had recently impressed. In fact Whitley, for once, were playing much better against top half opposition. The sight of a man walking his dog past us failed to distract us from the action...something I couldn't have said in previous matches. There was an upsurge in delight as Dunston's number 2 (Stephen Harrison - sorry for naming you) slipped in the 81st minute, leaving Williamson through on goal. The substitute had obviously learned from his team-mate Watling , and slotted the ball easily into the visiting net to begin the celebrations amongst most of the 307 fans in the ground. There was even time for a comedy moment as the Dunston keeper attempted to head the ball clear only for the wind to pick the ball up, along with the pigeon that had still failed to escape Hillheads, and send it back towards his own goal-line where Birdie was waiting to head it, the ball not the pigeon, goalwards. Once again Robbie ended up giving another virtual piggyback to a six-foot plus player as the jostled to head the ball. The ball eventually drifted wide and within a minute the match was over. The Bay had won at home for the first time since early January and in two consecutive matches for the first time since the end of November. 

Compared to what we had had to endure at Hillheads, this match was certainly a great improvement on the previous affair and for us That was Entertainment....from Easily Satisfied from Whitley Bay. Take that you Dunston miseries who gave me the idea for the musical video.