4th November 2017 - Bishop Auckland (H)

Looking back, I suppose the main objective for the day should have been to avoid any more injuries and get the returnees into the team successfully. So, with that in mind the day had been a relative success and we can look forward to an exciting week of cup footie with the Northumberland Senior Cup game against those lovely chaps from North Shields followed by the Vase game against Thornaby.

The morning started, as usual, with a parkrun. This time I was volunteering as a marshall on a very crisp morning: complete with the latest Movember moustache: raising money for men's health issues.
There were three visiting Bournemouth fans running, who were for the game against some team and they were intrigued when I mentioned that I was a Whitley Bay season ticket holder. They faithfully promised to check out the ground on the way to wherever they were going. Really nice lads!

Courtesy of Mr Twitter

There was a surprise inclusion as Le guerrier francais, Thibault Charmey returned from his fractured Tibia (Thibia?). Also returning was the tower of strength that is Professor Wilko. However, in the opposite direction travelled the fragile Callum Anderson and hamstrung Alex Kempster. There was also a welcome return for Robo, who partnered Scotty J up front: a double battering ram!
There was also more debate about Newton Aycliffe's kit colour from the week as Mick's Mate, Martin, was angry that the NUFC mogul had out-shouted his suggestion of cerise! This one may run for a while...
Thankfully there was no doubt about today's visiting strip and the visiting mogul wasn't there to outshout his distraught buddy who simply commented that it was "the kind of strip that didn't require floodlights..." Good call!
There was almost a perfect opening for Chris Salmon who leaped like the proverbial and in doing so flattened the distraught visiting #1; his reaction was a bit OTT and earned both of them a yellow card.

Flag wars continues! They nicked my spot!
Nice clips and cords though....

Soon after, Robo saw his cross roll across the goal-line, untouched by a Bay boot or body part and harmlessly out of danger.
After that, the rest of the half passed without too much excitement: there were close efforts from Peter GR and Matty Cornish along with a spectacular headed clearance from Josh Nearney after a save from Mr Lister.
We were distracted by the fact that Bishops had Shaun Ryder playing from and despite his lack of a Kinky Afro, Fat Neck or Loose Fit (for his strip), the Happy Mondays front man didn't manage to Get Higher than the home team and the half finished 0-0. We were left Pretty Vacant after that one but at least we hadn't lost our Marbles.
Half time meant hot chocolate, giant cola bottle and prawn cocktail crisps which I certainly did Shake Well Before Opening.

Absorbed

I'd barely finished doing some Freaky Dancin' when Mr Lister astonishingly rolled the ball straight into the path of Bishops' Johnson. With a completely empty goal to aim at he controlled the ball, headed closer to make certain and just managed to slip it into Lister's left hand post.
The errant  keeper then made amends with a string of spectacular saves with his left foot, right hand, left hand, both hands and finally a delightful tip-over the bar as Bishops went for the jugular.
With a cold, crisp Autumn evening drawing in, it looked like the lads were to end up pointless, however after a triple substitution, supersub  Brooksy levelled the scores in injury time.
PGR lashed a cracker goalwards that was parried and there was the delighted tall man to slam home. He was well-chuffed: and so were we! There were words of rebuke from Woody, however for the Flag Gang as they threw leaves at each other in celebration...wouldn't catch us doing that!

The Bay does Strictly come Dancing!

The fallen leaves used to celebrate the goal!

Another point snatched, making five points in three league games. Roll on next week!