The replay arrived on a particularly foggy night in the NorthEast. Sunderland RCA v Morpeth would eventually fall foul of the weather and as the Boy Mark and I drove up Hillheads the mist seemed to be hanging around the top of the hill and the ground. First thoughts naturally were how long into the game would we get before it was called off and therefore was there a set time to play before the club had to refund your exorbitant £6 entry fee. Thankfully by kickoff the fog had cleared enough for us to see the far end of the pitch so the game got underway: despite Moira moaning about not being able to see Flynn in the Bay goal. I told her that would be an advantage because he would be able to pop up and surprise the Billingham forwards like a Ninja but she wasn't convinced. Thankfully it was the Bay who were making the running so most of the play was within range of our rapidly failing eyesight: whether that was through age or meteoric conditions. The breakthrough arrived in the 17th minute when the lively Robo was hacked down mercilessly. The fans behind the goal were busy organising a whip-round to look after his family when the brave trooper managed to heroically get to his feet. (Creative licence from the Kinster-Boy.)
Up stepped the mercurial Potter who, after a tense few moments of hush, calmly slotted the ball down the middle: keeper Beblowski dived to his left. 1-0 the Bay. It was Thibault's turn to take aim next but his shot low to the keeper's left was palmed desperately away. Beblowski the hit a purple patch as he denied Thibault and Robo so there were still nerves aplenty at the break.
The second half had not long started when the Bay were 2-0 up. It was a gem from Jack 'there's only one' Walker, picking up the ball on the edge of the box before drilling it high into the net from the edge of the penalty area. We could start dreaming of a glorious trip to Humberside (or East Yorkshire as I was told by a resident to call it).
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| Bedlam ensued! |
Kempo was in the wars soon after when he was stood on by a Synner. We feared the worst when the red mist descended and he reacted by pushing the visitor away but thankfully, the ref saw sense he wasn't sent off or booked.
The game carried on. However, as per usual, the conversation drifted. It was the Kinster (like Ginster but with less meat pie) who regalled us with his tales of an away friendly trip to Glossop which involved: a bike falling off a car, lots of alcohol, an altercation by a pool table followed by a 20-piece bucket of MacyD chicken nuggets that he missed out on.
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| Lads! Lads! Lads! And Moira. |
We managed to switch back to the game in time to see Kyle Patton completely miss an overhead kick that would have been a goal of the season if it had connected. However, the conversation then returned back to the Kinster who declared his dislike for both Nandos (an expensive KFC) and the Lad Bible website (poorly written banter for the overbantered section of the Nando-eating banter community). Never short of an opinion that one; although I am partial to a cheeky Nandos (Kinster probably dislikes the word cheeky too).
The game was over a contest soon after when birthday boy, Matty Cornish came off the bench to send a great cross from Kempo high into the net with an outstretched-right-footed-half-volley-could-have-been-a-volley-type-shot. Marvellous stuff and a happy birthday present for him!
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| Celebrations in the mist |
Thibault almost scored a wonderful overhead kick but his effort sailed over the bar. There was great merriment at the final whistle: we had reached the first round proper!
The dream trip was on! 3-0 to the Bay was the final score. Soon after, though, the realisation dawned that Westalla and Willerby represented a drive of more than 45 minutes...even if the Boy Mark drove like the clappers. Watch this space!
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