26th December 2016 - West Allotment Celtic (h)

Bossyboots!

The day started with the job of marshalling on the course of the Woodlawn Pudding Run where 900+ runners (fun and otherwise) donned fancy dress (some of them) to raise money for Woodlawn School in Monkseaton. After directing various runners/Christmas puddings / reindeer / Santas / Elves...etc it was a race home to pick up Mrs Bay-Blogger (hyphenated cause she's posh) who was coming for her traditional Boxing Day visit to the Bay. Managing to get in with time to spare, I finish downing a turkey / stuffing / sausage sandwich lovingly prepared by my youngest (for herself and then given to me because she couldn't manage the number she'd made).
My pre-match Boxing Day selfie was censored because Mrs Bay-Blogger had her eyes closed but it was good to have her opinion on the match. Her first insight into the world of Northern League football was that the Celtic keeper, Chris Bannon, was a "bit of a bossyboots": she certainly didn't pull any punches!

A crisp but blowy Boxing Day!

Just as I was noting down her analysis, Celtic scored. Mrs B-B informed me that "it was a corner that was headed back across and was possibly headed in". The perfect analysis...she pays more attention than I do...for once I didn't have to ask Mr Twitter what happened. For the record it was Liam Hudson who did indeed head home.

Return if the Bay bell!

1-0 down after five minutes made Mrs B-B feel at home...she's a Boro fan. One thing was clear, the wind was going to do its best to spoil the game and once again the Bay were struggling against Storm Connor...Barbara had only left on Christmas Eve. As a result Mrs B-B noted that the Bay weren't exactly "bossing the game". Again she was spot on with her analysis as every ball forward was either held up in the wind or fell to a Celtic player. The pitch wasn't helping ether. I presume that after the last time it was cut, which wasn't such a success, it had been left longer. This meant that the lads' attempts at playing football on the ground were being held up by a clingy pitch. Nothing the grounds staff could do about that. Tom Potter, on the wing was struggling to free the ball from its claggy prison (...er of Azkaban: sorry best Harry Potter reference we could think of - it was cold!). A welcome returnee was the famous Bay Bell; which had been missed. However, it wasn't ringing out enough for most people's liking because of the lack of bay attacks.

Magic man gets his reward.

I'd given up writing notes after missing out on the first goal and it was freezing but there was very little happening until a Celtic volley scraped over the crossbar then another Celtic shot came close.
An injury to Callum Anderson, early in the second half, saw him being replaced by Ryan Keltie and the Bay seemed to gain more impetus going forward. Finally Potter was flying more freely down the wing and the Bay's quick passing started to unsettle the hard-working visitors. It was only fitting that the wizard-winger produced a magical finish (I really should stop this, I know: sorry Tom) into the top corner of the net. Soon after the Bay were awarded a freekick and Callum Patton scored, with the help from Mr Bossyboots Bannon.

Surely the Bay would go on to steamroll our near friends? Not exactly! The pitch became heavier as the night drew in... or maybe the players got tired from running through treacle for the last hour; basically, the busy Supermac and Kempster ran out of steam. As a result, chances were at a premium. Our French revolutionary (I certainly don't remember many French players in the Bay team...), Monsieur Charmey and Kyle were brought on and both brought more attacking purpose down the middle of the field. Despite some nearly-could-have-beens and almost-weres, it looked like the game was over and we could celebrate our first win in five games but the wind had the last laugh. A hopeful punt towards goal caught out Tom Flynn as the wind blew it onto the crossbow. The ball dropped onto the touchline and Hudson was on hand to slide it over the line. Not a great way for the Bay to end 2016 but the fight and determination is still there along with a good team spirit and desire to play football. Fingers crossed, the improvement continues in 2017.
Tom Potter was rightly awarded the h2o man of the match!

I would like to wish all my readers a Happy New Year and hope that 2017 treats us all well. Also thank you to all of you who are reading this as I am now averaging an incredible 300-400 readers per blog.
Haway the Bay!

17th December 2016 - Sunderland RCA (a)

As a fan of most things from our Gallic neighbours across the Channel, I was delighted with Nash's signing of ex Paris youth player Thibault Charmey from those great players in the international transfer market: Guisborough Town. There was no way I was going to miss his debut: I could practically smell pain chocolat followed by a fricadelle sandwhich americain (sausage sandwich and chips). Complete with the Bay Tricolore I was grateful to fellow Bell-Ender (without a bell now, sadly), Claire for the lift to Sunderland. The Kinnon joined us on a very dry, crisp but cold day.
There had also been another signing with forward Peter Glen-Ravenhill signing from North Shields after scoring 7 goals in 5 games for the reserves. Both players were named in the subs. Staying put in the defence was David Hall after another successful game against Shildon that had earned him the man of the match award.

The bar...warm it was.

First stop, just to get out of the cold, was to the warm atmosphere of the bar, which was doing great guns on its pies rather tasty, apparently. Preferring to wait until half time (by which time they had run out), I headed out for the pitch to watch the pre-match warm-up. Disappointingly, neither the French maestro nor our hot reservist striker were in the starting line-up but that was only to be expected, I suppose: they have to earn their place.
As far as I can remember, whenever the Bay have played here, we have ended up shooting downhill in the first half and that is just how it turned out today.

Mince of a pie?
Nice!

My memories of previous defeats sprang to mind as the lads struggled. RCA were on the attack from the off and the Bay defence didn't look happy in the continued absence of Prof Wilkinson. It was no surprise when with 10 minutes gone, Stehen Callen coolly slotted past the exposed Tom Flynn. It could have been worse a few minutes later when a suicidal Bay backpass, led to an almighty scramble with Bay bodies being flung in front of the ball and then finally Nick Allen spectacularly clearing the ball first off the line and finally narrowly over the bar.

Not good for Shanksy.....up to 8 weeks
 out with geet hard tissue damage.

There was hope for the Bay as the ex-Alnwick duo of Liam Brooks and Adam Shanks looked to be linking up well. It was the Kempstervator who found himself out of luck however as his efforts were cleared off the line, having twice beaten ex-Bay legend (for ten minutes) Jonathan Carmichael. According to one Bay fan visiting from Malta, he had been indulging in too many of the old pies since leaving.
The second half didn't start well for Whitley's Shankster as he went down under a challenge and couldn't get up...or even roll off the pitch, as one sympathetic soul said he should do.

On came new boy Peter Glen-Ravenhall for his debut and he proceeded to hit both posts with two cracking strikes. It just wasn't to be our day.

The drama once again proved to be off the pitch as a paramedic arrived at the other end of the pitch. Assuming it was for Shanksy, it shut the youngest member of the travelling support for a few minutes, who claimed there was nowt wrong with Mr Shanks and that he'd be playing next week. We watched as the paramedic went one way and Shanks went the other like an episode of the Keystone Cops. It later turned out that one of the Sunderland fans had taken ill and was thankfully taken to hospital in an ambulance that quickly arrived. Shanks would have to make his own way to Cramlington hospital...couldn't see him wanting to be treated at Sunderland General somehow.
Finally, the French Maestro arrived on the pitch but with eight minutes left, it seemed like it was too late. He did have the chance to lay off a couple of good balls to the supporting Peter, Alex and Liam (boyband potential...? Don't think so) and did so calmly and accurately.
The final blow came when Mark Robinson slotted calmly underneath the advancing Flynn. 2-0 final score and once again the lads had been out-fought and out-passed, despite the luck not going their way.

Sad trip home.

What we need is a local derby next....
Have a great Christmas and see you at Hillheads on Boxing Day for the big game!

10th December 2016 - Shildon (h)

I missed the last two games due to trips away to see indie popsters White Lies in Liverpool and Placebo in Leeds. Avoiding the defeat at Guisborough and draw at Benfield gave me false hope of a Bay win. Even though we were facing fourth placed Shildon, I was still confident. After all in the away game, the Bay had recovered from being 2-0 down to secure a draw at the league champions. This Bay team, I feel, has more to offer, playing-wise, if lacking in experience. I was also looking forward to seeing the new boys Liam Brooks (Forward from Alnwick Town) and Matty McCarthy (defender from WAC) but both were on the bench and a surprise inclusion was the twinkle-toed elder statesman of Whitley football Chris 'I'm the coach' Moore. The rumour on the terrace was that he was actually making his ninth debut for the club although that was later scaled down to his third.
There was also the added draw, after the game, of a fans' forum. this also included the genius move of giving £1 off everyone attending's first beverage. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend but Mr Bay Twitter was in attendance to report back.
The Bay made the perfect start when a Shanks flick found Kempster. His cross eluded everyone and was perfectly side-footed home. The boys were back in town!
However, they weren't. Shildon suddenly seemed to step up a gear and the Bay goal was under siege most of the half. Shildon levelled from the penalty spot on 13 minutes, Billy Greulich-Smith scoring. This was followed by a chance for Captain Mac, but his drive at the far post only  met the side netting. The Bay were made to rue this missed opportunity as a flying Shildon player in the box, again meant the visitors being awarded a penalty which BGS slotted home confidently.
Shildon's passing was so much better than the Bay's and whenever the home players rescued the ball, their clearances lacked composure and accuracy so were quickly recovered by the visitors. Tom Flynn was a busy boy.

Shrinking Chocolate?
Not happy!

Our short-sighted group became slightly distracted during this period and so the conversation drifted onto that important and, often debated, subject of shrinking chocolate bars. With the help of Google, we solved the debate once and for all. The truth of it all is that Mars bars in the 1990s were 65 grams and are now a miniscule 51 grams (although in the 1980s they were only 49 grams!). Yorkies have gone from 58g (1980s) to 70g (1990s) and are now a teeny-sized 46 grams. (thanks to Confectionerynews.com)
There was good news in that Kitkats, Double Deckers and Lion bars have grown in size. But yes...Wagon Wheels are indeed smaller. This frequently recurring topic lead us to Tommy's Tea Emporium at half time as I indulged in some tiny Mars Bar action.

Our view from afar!

Into the second half and our view of the action was once again distant as Liam Brooks replaced the Kempstervator, who had picked up an injury and couldn't keep going in the second half. Shildon continued to dominate. Yes the lads worked hard but they just couldn't get going. With big man Brooks up front there were a few more high balls aimed at him but the visiting defence held sway.

Ripped shorts?

The on-field action frequently took second place to the antics of a group of young lads, all wearing blue and white Hair-Bear bunch Afro-wigs (circa 1970). Their constant cries of "Keeper, keeper your pants have split!" were amusing for a while but we eventually tired and when we returned to concentrate on the game, it went from bad to worse.
The game was effectively over in the 64th minute when the flying Lewis Wing took aim and his deflected shot beat the floored Flynn at his near post. The continued huff and puff from the boys showed great willing but they created few chances and the game finished 3-1; Shildon having controlled the game after the Bay's opener.
Not quite back to the drawing board, just a minor blip in this young side's progress.

Finally: good luck to Stephen Gibson who has been missing from the Bay line-up with a torn patella tendon and needs 6-7 months of physio and rehab but thankfully no operation. Get well soon!