7th November 2017 - North Shields (A) NSC -1

The smell of deep heat was overpowering as the Whitley players warmed up on another crisp but cold Tyneside night. There were so many players carrying knocks and niggles that there was almost an antiseptic mist that followed them around.
No such problems for the home team as they warmed up in front of the growing crowd.
There certainly was a lot of expectation building for this first cup tie between the two teams in many years.

Our posh neighbours #1: colour team sheet!

Our posh neighbours #2: a fancy waiting area to use the bogs!

World of flags!

Since my last visit in our extremely unlikely 2-1 victory in 2015, our local rivals have made great strides with improvements to the ground. The brand spanking new clubhouse is well set out and warm: a complete contrast to the barrels we had to sit on for our first visit: a 2-1 friendly defeat. It certainly makes parts of the Seahorse look shabby (their roof didn't flap about in the wind) and need of attention: it pains me to say. It also pains me to say that their goals are straight and not leaning. Their pitch also looked in perfect condition: ideally short for our passing style. On and off the pitch, our neighbours are putting us in the shade at the moment so I was desperate for a chance to put one over them. Another reason was that the school Iteach at was a stone's throw away and there was a good chance that a Whitley defeat would result in many small bods taking the mickey out of me the next day.
The usual collection of flags adorned the home bank: also putting us to shame.
My little Tricolore was hardly  match but size isn't everything I reminded myself.

Perfect pitch with a rapidly disappearing Bay  legend : Phil Bell.

As many of the Bay fans noted, it was ex Bay versus present Bay. Shields boasted Brian Smith as manager along with Gary Ormston, Craig McFarland, Paul Robinson, Lee Mason, Kyle Hayes...A who's who of the last few Hillheads years. How would our young guns fare?
At first it looked very promising as a couple of quick chances came our way but then the more physical Shields side began to impose themselves and we were on the back foot.
With 13 minutes gone, a loose hand in the Bay box ended up diverting the ball so referee, David Pill took great glee in awarding a penalty to the home side. It was a hard one to swallow! Up stepped Ben Harmison to slot home as Mr Lister dived the opposite way.
The charmers on the grassy bank then woke up and began reciting from their Ladybird book of First Football Chants. First up it was there was the timeless "You can stick your Spanish City up your...." followed by the old classic "We hate Whitley...." and the 70s tribute"We are the Shee-elds, the Shee-elds boot boys..." Strangely, they were extremely quiet on the 33rd minute, as first the Kempstervator turned the ball in from close range then defender Joe Robson clipped the ball perfectly over Sean McCafferty. Amazingly the lads were ahead.

One member of Pie Club joins in the celebrations!

Moira admires the single Bay flag...

After admonishing the other members of Flag Club (first rule of Flag Club: don't forget your flag: part timers!) for forgetting to bring their flag, I had time to study the match programme which was filled with articles and of a very high standard. I had to admit it, it was one of the best in the league. However, having a packed programme, nice club house and flat pitch did not guarantee you a winning team and where it mattered, the Bay were doing the business. throughout the second half Kempster and PGR was working hard and Potter was finding acres of space to fly up and down the wing. The lads had upped their game. The magical winger had recovered from being sung "Somewhere over the rainbow.." when he shot miles over in the first and was using his wand of a right foot to great effect. Liam Brookes was also working hard and fully justified his place on the starting line up. it only seemed a matter of time before the lads scored. On came Jasper: the Duracell bunny and he ran back and forth, causing no end of problems. Josh Nearney was enjoying himself immensely going forward and should have had a penalty...

Then, suddenly there was a scramble on the Bay box and the Bay bar was left shaking from a mighty effort. We suddenly looked nervous as the quiet Shields fans stopped their early exiting and began roaring their team on. We nervously watched as the fourth official (yes we had one of them!) held up the 'Tommyknocker' board which was illuminated by the number four. Four minutes of injury time. Next to me, Daz (provider of comedy  and wise phrases for the night) had disappeared into a cloud of vapour. We were all tense!

We should have known there was to be no happy ending for us as, in the 95th minute, Daniel Wilson levelled for the home side. Blue hearts were broken. The Kempster was then called a "Dirty £$%&ing Tory" after a challenge that he was lucky hadn't earned him more than the yellow card he received.
Extra time followed and the lads looked knackered. The Bay finally succumbed when Ryan Carr found space on the left hand corner of the Bay penalty area: his drive nestling into Lister's far post. There were still moments for the Bay to equalise but the Bay's Chris Salmon just couldn't wrap his foot around the ball and the chance to equalise had gone. 2-3 final score to Shields.
As hard as it was to lose, if I could have chosen to lose on Tuesday but win in the Vase...I know what I'd have chosen: victory against Thornaby is imperative! Haway the Bay! (that's with an 'a' BTW)