26.9.15 FA Cup 2nd Qualifier Congleton Town (h)

A young Wayne Rooney?

A late equaliser by Newbiggin against my girls' team had dampened my spirits, that morning as I had to be happy with a 1-1 draw for the mighty Hawks. When I picked up the post-op Boy Mark to take him to the big game he reminded me of the importance of the afternoon and the need for total focus. The Bay were the remaining team from the region to reach this stage of the competition, facing opposition from a similar level as ourselves that we had beaten the previous year in the FA Vase, so there was every chance that we could be into the third qualifying round.
The first issue when the teams emerged was the opposition's kit. At first it looked like they were Norwich in disguise but then we realised that their stripes were black and yellow and not green and yellow. Okay it was their away kit (normal colours black and white stripes)  but why have the green shorts? They looked as if the kit had been thrown together at the last minute after a night out on the hoy that had involved a few too many snakebites (am I showing my age there?)
Secondly the number six for Town looked like a young Wayne Rooney and his shirt had an upside down number nine on the back of his shirt, which added greater support to my kit manager's drinking theory.
The game started poorly for Whitley: probably because we had to swap ends and attack the car park end in the first half!  Also, Congleton seemed to be doing the best to get revenge for losing to us in the FA Vase the previous year. It wasn't really a surprise when they went ahead, delighting the small travelling band of Town fans who had made the trip North. They had proudly decorated the fence with a fine collection of flags: something that Whitley fans need to do more about sorting out - myself included: after all there are plenty of gaps to be filled in at Hillheads.

Bay finds some bite with Kempster.

The  fight and, most importantly, the organisation seemed to be missing for the home side. No Laws and Chuck Norris seemed to be affecting the bite in midfield. However, slowly, they started forcing their way into the game and despite his lack of speed Phil Lumsden was using his skill and determination to greater effect, managing to fashion a great chance that bounced off the post. Also, Alex and Chris Mac began to have more success down the left wing. Every time he managed to get the ball, the Kempstervator had the beating of his marker: Wayne Rooney Jnr. Unfortunately with only Shanks in the box, his crosses were being cut out by the massed ranks (4) of visiting defenders. In the second half Bob's Words of Wisdom must have had some effect.

Packed defence for a corner, and only Shanks to mark:
can't think why we aren't level....

"You don't score goals by passing back to your keeper!" the wise sage cried as a Bay attack ended with the ball back at Jennison's feet.

Suddenly the lads were pressing and supporting Shanks. In the 70th minute, Kempster battled with a defender and managed to get a shot away which Farrimond (in the orange "I've been tangoed" outfit) kicked clear. Thankfully for us, the ball fell at the feet of Adam 'the goal machine' Shanks to blast home from 25 yards. The four lads behind the goal who had been trying to put off the keeper were delighted with this and a few minutes later Shanks added a second. Taking advantage of Congleton's number 5 collapsed in the six yard box and the ref waving play on, Adam advanced on goal, finishing smartly as the number, Andrew Alston complained about his terrible treatment. The Bay crowd weren't so sympathetic for some reason.

The visitors upped their game to get an equaliser  but the Bay defence held firm and didn't really look like conceeding. Even so it was a nervous time...












There was even time for Alex to skim the bar with a cracking free kick:

We were through to the third qualifying round and only ten wins away from the FA Cup final!

19.9.15 - North Shields (a)

This was always going to be a case of After the Lord Mayor's Show after Tuesday's drama. This sounds an amazing statement considering the Coastico had been the most anticipated confrontation when the fixtures had been announced but there was no way Tuesday's drama could be replicated, surely? The meeting of the FA Vase holders and the most successful FA Vase team in history (and 2016 winners hopefully) was becoming more than just a local derby.
Apart from the fact that I knew half of the children from my school would be there supporting Shields and ready to rib me on Monday morning, there was also the memory of two Bay demolitions by the men in red the previous season.
The Boy Mark  and his daughter (for her first ever Bay game) was kept waiting outside yours truly's  as I raced back from masterminding a 3-0 victory for my girls' team in Hexham. He was extremely anxious about getting in considering the queues the previous year and I was extremely anxious because I hadn't had anything to eat since 8am that morning - an eternity!
Arriving 20 minutes before kick-off there were not the queues that had met us the previous time, as the lure of watching Newcastle lose at home to Watford proved too big for some but the regulars were there including the Shields Ultras who spent the whole match chanting about hating Whitley (with an occasional song about winning the FA Vase once upon a time: tongue firmly in cheek). Despite the lack of choral variety (IMHO) it was great to see this level of support for a team at this level. Okay so, Bay fans nowadays are more sedate but we always travel in large numbers and having two well supported teams at this level can only be good for the league. Those people who spent £30+ in the big city certainly missed out by not coming to the coast.
Having missed out on lunch there was time for the healthy option for fitness fanatics the world over: mince and onion pie (it did have onion in), crisps (sadly not a canny bag of Tudor but did have VEGETABLE oil in) and a can of coke. Sure enough as I cued for my goodies there were repeated cries of
"Hello Mr Stephenson!" from some of the children I teach and would probably to take stick from on Monday. By the time I had finished my feast, Shields had already begun battering the Bay and a repeat of last season looked on the cards.

Long-haired.....

....and the Boy Mark and daughter
 partake of  refreshments

Attention was briefly drawn away from the game by the lovely lady with the confectionery trolley, who was struggling along by herself, pushing her wares along the grass behind us because 'her husband had to work'! Some kind soul must have suggested she use the flagstones instead as she made quicker progress later on.
Whitley were starting to whether the storm with 25 minutes gone when, against the run of play, Chris Bannon in the Shields goal dropped a long throw and Alex 'wunderkind' Kempster slammed it in. The ground was stunned, but we should have had faith: this was the new Whitley - the one that doesn't give up and challenges for every ball. The tough tackling and workrate at the back had paid off!
The spirit of Tuesday night was still there, despite our worries.

There was more delight ten minutes later when a ball was threaded through perfectly for Chuck Norris to advance on Bannon, who tried waving at Chuck to put him off but Chuck perfectly slotted the ball past him. Was this really happening?

You beauties!

The Gentlemen's Club with their impressive array of flags hanging up were not amused! And neither was the lone Shields fan behind Jennison's goal who spent the whole match berating anyone he could: mostly the ref and the Bay players.
Five minutes into the second half it looked like there would not be a happy ending for us as Jennison this time, palmed the ball straight to a Shields player who blasted it in from just outside the six yard box. Not the start to the second half we wanted. However, no matter how much the home team huffed and puffed, they couldn't blow the Whitley house down. Apart from a lone occasion when Shields managed to get the ball past Jennison, only for an angelic linesman to rule offside,  the Bay defence held firm. There was even a chance for Williamson to head off on a mazy run which ended up with Bannon saving well.

Determination! You shall not pass!

Our celestial hero!

This was going to be our day again! The men on the mount began singing "Can you run!" incessantly for the last five minutes and you had to wonder how much they missed the bad old days of English football. At the final whistle there was relief but a renewed sense of pride in the team. 'Paddy Power' seemed to be working. Two amazing performances in a week! You could have forgiven the lads if they had lost this after the FA Cup game but no...they wanted more, and it had all been achieved without the talisman that is the Shanksivator!
Exciting times are returning to Hillheads! Roll on the Cup games! Haway the Bay!
Not as dramatic as Tuesday but every bit as satisfying...
#Getinthebag!

15.9.15 - FA cup 1st Qualifying round - Matlock Town

Drawn against a team two leagues above us meant most Bay fans were thinking that it was the end of our FA cup run for the year. At one point the dreaded manflu looked to be winning over its battle with my body and a trip to Hillheads might have to be cancelled. The boy Mark came to my rescue with the offer of a lift and I managed to beat off the strength-sapping effects of this scurrilous virus!
Everyone was there tonight: except for the wavering Bob and Moira (very suspicious their continued support for North Shields in these mixed times for the Mighty Bay).

Shanksy!

Bovril and bubbles....great!

It all seemed to be going swimmingly as Shanks out-muscled a visiting defender on the winger before beating George Willis in the visiting goal. In the only worrying attack, Chris Reid had to be called upon to dramatically scissor / overhead kick the ball off the line with Andy Jennison beaten. Things got even better when Shanks hit the post and it rebounded perfectly for Chuck Norris to slam in the rebound on the volley. The half time whistle blew and apart from the brilliance of Reid, Matlock had hardly threatened and their whinging, hand-balling and play-acting tactics every time they didn't get the ball had got them nowhere: apart from a booking for Shanksy..but so what! We were quite confident and relaxed heading off for our half time teas and Bovrils. The cafe culture at Whitley was continuing to take shape so the lads took the opportunity to relax in the Bay Hot Tub that Tommy from the Tea Emporium must have knocked up after the Bishops game when Jane had thought it might be a nice addition, bet Bob and Moira wished they had been there! This was all to be our undoing!

Bang! Ten minutes in the second half, Joel Purkiss turned the ball in after a scramble around the Bay net then Shanks tried to keep a ball in that had just gone out and was sent off. Worse was to follow when Speedster Williamson went in for a 50-50 ball. Both him and a visiting defender dived in with equal determination but the visitor rolled around on the ground in distress (obviously) and the young man from Bristol City was off. With no attackers, the Bay were contented to hump the ball down the wings for the final 11 minutes and hope that was enough. Unfortunately 5 minutes from time another scramble resulted in the equaliser - the optimism had been replaced by anger at the ref's performance. The rumour that he was a Mackem sent from on high to disturb any Geordie team could not be confirmed but seemed likely. Two passing Police Officers arrived to calm the baying crowd of over 40s and under 18s but thought it all quite amusing so soon carried on with their beat. Back on the pitch, Jennison superbly tipped a Matlock shot over the bar in the last minute but there weren't many that could see the Bay hanging out for the whole of extra time without conceding. The FA gods were looking elsewhere with their favour and that was reflected in the grim silence that descended upon Hillheads. The hot tub time machine had gone for the Bay!

What can we do now, Paddy?

The ref continued his incompetence in extra time, booking the wrong Town player for a foul and ignoring most of the Bay's appeals for freekicks and awarding the visitors a freekick every time the wind changed direction. The home resistance seemed to have ended nine minutes into extra time when another scramble in the Whitley box ended in visiting Jack Siddall mis-hitting the ball and it trickled, seemingly apologetically, into the net. The first away goal we had witnessed at our end of the ground only confirmed the inevitable: we were out of the FA Cup for another year.
Up until half time of extra time, the team seemed to share the mood of the fans and were content to defend then clear the ball forward to non-existent forwards. However into the second half of extra time and Paddy and the boys seemed to have decided to have a go and things started happening around the visiting box and it wasn't the return of the hot tub! Frantic passes forward started ending up at Bay playing feet and they started attacking. Matlock seemed to have relaxed, convinced that they were through as well and so corner after corner came in and the defence panicked while the Bay attacked like wild demons. Jennison came up for every corner, leaving Chris MacDonald to guard the back although he was desperate to get involved himself. Most of the crowd roared him forward but Paddy was having none of it and told him to stay put....which was just as well as he was able to snuff out any of the breakaways. Apart from a loan effort that trickled towards the goal-line and out, he and the rest of the defence that sprinted back whenever things broke down, did an amazing job: not that there seemed much point in doing it.
Nae! Doom-merchants begone! For those amongst us who had expected the worst, there was an amazing finish. A stabbed shot, possibly from Aristotle, rolled wide with the keeper stranded seconds earlier. That was it! The ref then looked at his watch as he awarded another Bay corner. It was last gasp saloon time! The tumbleweed was drifting across the pitch and the vultures were waiting on the clubhouse roof, eating a mixture of scampi and bacon fries, when the corner was swung in one last time. This time Chris 'wonderkid' Reid headed in. Hillheads went wild.
Penalties it was....we charged around behind the goal, cheered the Bay heroes as they slammed all their penalties and barracked the Town players as they missed two of theirs and at the end of it all we won. Exhausted we floated home: 10:30 finish for football! Not bad value for the entertainment!
Full penalty shootout:

https://youtu.be/kqUMhTjaxlo

Getinthebag! Congleton Town next!

8.9.15 - Bishop Auckland (h)

Chris turns
ball collector

If the score had been convincing against Willington the previous Saturday then the performance certainly hadn't been. So there were many of the Bay faithful who turned up with trepidation to this midweek fixture, especially remembering the previous season's game between the two clubs when the visitors left with a comfortable victory. My first season ticket game of 2015-16 certainly looked like it could be a tricky one.
The first surprise when we got in was the welcome return of Chris Wednesday, our
Sheffield supporting friend and it was also great to see the return of Jane the White, Bob and Moira. In fact I was so pleased to see them that I completely missed Shanks' opening goal which allegedly a toe poke. It probably won't be the last goal I miss this season.


There was great admiration being expressed for the Auckland away strip with its swirly pattern on one side when Shanks was brought down: another penalty for the Bay.
2-0 up after ten minutes, the boys were playing with an intensity that had been missing in the previous game. The choice of playing one up front seemed to be paying off this time.

Tommy's Tea-time.....? Eat your heart out Willington AFC!

The debate moved on to the number of visiting players wearing the same yellow boots when an amazing Laws strike was dramatically headed off the line. Was this the same team that started so poorly against Willington?
Things got even better when a slightly tricky tackle came in from Bishop's Hotchkiss.  It looked to be a simple free-kick but suddenly a fracas broke out and he was off. Next a Macdonald pile-driver screamed into the net and a visit to our favourite al fresco diner, Tommy's Tea Hut, beckoned for half time.
It was nice to see that Tommy had joined in with the continental theme and produced his own range of cocktails (a slight stretching of the truth there). Taking our place for the second half a strangely scary man tried to look for someone to argue with about the sending off. Being stupid enough, I accidentally made eye contact with him and that was it: he ranted at me about how Paddy had said the ref / linesman had got it wrong...I agreed with him while all around stared into their non-existent programmes and Bovrils and he soon stomped off to argue with a brick wall and a floodlight.

Soon into the second half, Shanks completed his hat-trick; after great play between Kempster and Norris and it looked like last season had been avenged. About 70 minutes in, Tullock Time, an off-the-cuff comment from Bishops' Glen Lane meant the visitors were down to nine men. However for a while Whitley lost their way and couldn't manage to thread a decent pass into the box.
It was that man again that made the difference as Shanks spanked  a cross-field ball into the box for his fourth of the game. He was on fire and the four young lads singing behind the visiting goal were in fine form! The lads were chatting about the various people that passed their house early in the morning when a Norris cross was turned by a beleaguered Auckland defender and the previous season's drubbing had well and truly been forgotten.

There was time for a final goal when the unknown Whitley Bay philosopher Aristotle Guerin hit the ball and Kempster turned in the rebound....no jokes about seventh heaven but it was a canny night!

5th September FA vase - Willington (a)

I hadn't been a very loyal fan so far this season - apart from a trip to Durham to see the Bay fight back from 2-0 down to claim a 2-2 draw - I hadn't seen any Bay games - my other footballing love, Racing Club de Lens had been receiving my extra attention (see www.northernlensois.blogspot.co.uk).

My first ever wbayblogger article had covered the trip to Bedlington, the previous year, and an undeserved 4-1 win, so it was only fitting that I wrote about our return to the competition that had brought us so much glory.
Our journey to County Durham went swimmingly until we entered Willington and at that point both the postcode on the satnav and the directions from the bay website failed us...maybe we were just being thick...We finally asked directions from a strange bod dressed from head to foot in camouflage clothing and carrying a mug of what we assumed was tea or coffee but couldn't quite be sure. Thankfully his directions proved to be just the job and with five minutes to kick off we each parted with our five pounds and entered Willington's field of dreams.

Panoramic Willington....

Not impressed with Barry's behaviour!

Barry - players and officials only!

There was a faint whiff of coal or coke fires on what was a sunny but disappointingly cold day. The woolly Whitley hats made their early debut - what was that all about? Me and the Boy Mark are soft...? No: of course not - it was cold and windy! If only we could have lived the dream...and sat in the area reserved for players and officials....Barry thought he was one or the other and blatantly marched past the sign that said "Players and Officials only!" Anarchy! The man would do anything to read the team sheet...crazy stuff.
Upset at the lack of respect shown to our hosts by the programmed one, there was worse to follow when the smallest player on the pitch rose like a salmon (or cod) to head Willington into the lead.
The Bay were soon level when Shanks levelled when he found himself unmarked on the far side of the penalty area and finished smartly.
Next, the referee came to our assistance when he took exception to the home defenders trying to hug the Whitley attackers and awarded the Bay a welcome penalty...

Shanks stepped up and coolly slotted home to send the Bay delirious with polite applause.
The half time whistle arrived with the Bay lucky to be 2-1 up after an extremely shaky start.
The sun came out and it was nice to see both the home and away fans making the most of Willington's European-style cafe culture.

Cafe-culture hits Willington: living the life!

What a slope!

Into the second half and Whitley fans had hopes that their heroes would take full advantage of the massive slope of the pitch. That is exactly what they did. A Shanksy screamer couldn't be held by the keeper, who threw it instead into his own net. Next Kempster, who had been fairly quiet, bulleted a header past the keeper.
This proved to be too much for the rotund home keeper and he decided to hold everything up by changing his boots -  preferring a rather nice pair of pinkies instead: what was all that about?

The old boots didn't work....

....shocked!

 The new, natty pinkies didn't improve things for him as a scramble in the box was turned in by Young. There was more to finish off when new speedster, Williamson (arriving from Bristol City), sprinted in on goal and was brought down. Another penalty and the young man took his opportunity to score on his debut.
By the final whistle, the away faithful were extremely aware that their team had been flattered by the score. A trip to West Allotment Celtic in the next round would have to see a much improved performance but for today we were just relieved to be into the next round.