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| Playing aeroplanes during a match should be a bookable offence! |
The new ClubApp was in full working order and certainly a great addition to the Club's social media arsenal.
The link to the club's Facebook site is a great idea as are the match analysis stats. The Club is entering the 21st Century so well done to all involved in that.
Disappointingly, a crowd of only 213 turned up on a warm Summer's day. The Toon were playing their opening game of their Championship season but it was a shame that not more had turned out in the Sun.
It was good to see Fryatt in the starting line-up as well as a forward pairing of Robo and Shanks. The only disappointment for Neil was that fans' favourite Dave Berry had been relegated to tape dispenser as the kick off was delayed because of a net malfunction. A trimmer-looking Berry duly appeared carrying a roll of blue electrician's tape. However, his lack of height meant that Ryhope's Chris Rookes had to apply the finishing touches.
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| Not much happening going forward for the Bay... |
There was good banter with the stocky visiting keeper as we basked in the welcome sun and he was smiling even more when Callum Anderson blasted a thunderbolt off the post. Rookes was smiling even more when Flynn made a complete hash of coming out of goal and Mathew Wears slotted into the empty net. In time honoured tradition, I missed the goal and was only aware that they had scored by Neil's Coventry boom of a voice berating Flynn. The opening goal of Middlesbrough's Premiership campaign proving a distraction to me as my jubilant wife texted me.
From then on, Whitley struggled to break down the packed Ryhope defence. Some great play between Shanks and Callum Munroe looked to have done the trick but at the last minute, Callum trod on the ball and the chance was lost. Shanks hit the post/side netting but it was Ryhope who had the last word of the half when a rasping drive crashed against the post. Apparently Flynn produced a magnificent save to keep the shot out but I was the only one who missed it as I was distracted by Barry's latest joke: "The British trampolining team has admitted that its sport has its ups and downs."
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| The faithful wilting in the 'heat'? Or was it the return of Barry's sense of humour? |
I doubt they will improve.
There was an air of inevitability from the faithful as the teams emerged for the second half but this wasn't shared by a rejuvenated Bay team.
Three minutes in, Fryatt swivelled and slotted past Rookes who looked to have lost his sense of bonhomie towards us. "Just take it easy" we had confidently told him as we hadn't expected a Bay revival. "We'll tell you when we're on the attack."
Two minutes later a Robo screamer gave us the lead. Soon after there was a Patton blaster, a Munroe trickler and finally a Fryatt jinxy run and goal. We were 5-1 up. The faithful had even managed to stand up in the excitement.
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| 1-1 - Bob doesn't even spill his tea. The crew didn't manage to stand up though. |
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| 2-1 the lads brought to their feet in the building red-hot atmosphere! Bob still has not finished his tea! |
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| 3-1 surge to the barrier! |
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| 4-1 Hooligan on the pitch... sort of. |
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| 5-1 The Roar of the Bell-less end! |
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| You can look now! |
There was a also a treat for Neil the Berry Watcher as Shanks took a knock near the end and the trimmer, leaner footie machine the Berrynator emerged to guide the lads over the line. Despite being told by Ian that I wasn't allowed to sing any version of "Whitley's on Fire, your defence is terrified..." or Seven Nation Army, it had been great to get back to proper football after the disaster that had been the Euro Championships. Now we just have to get the lads to come over to the fans and do the "Clapping" after every win.
The perfect start to the league season (the first half long forgotten) and with Kempster due back from his holiday the optimism levels have been raised. Fingers crossed!
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