30th March 2018 - North Shields (h)

The sun had shown its face briefly as I headed up the hill towards Hillheads at 10:40. In the opposite direction I spotted one of the Bay regulars heading in the opposite direction.
"Is the game on?" I queried, pulling off my headphones so I could hear him.
"...Just off to the pub first..."
"What time's kick off?" I replied. With all the traffic, I couldn't hear his answer but his signing of the number twelve with his fingers told me that I really should have paid more attention to the kick off time on the Marden Bridge fence poster. Durr!
Heading back home, via the Quarry so people in their houses didn't see me returning five minutes after passing them, I picked up some posters to drum up publicity for my new science fiction book (Albie: Fugitive of Tenebria) (https://goo.gl/U96Rfx) and it's accompanying book launch (bit.ly/AlbieLaunch) . Posters duly delivered, I finally completed my journey. Friends I knew who were Shields fans (yes I do have some) asked me how I thought the game would go and my mood was not optimistic. In fact it was downright negative, given yet another member of the Bay team had joined the Shields exodus. Matty Cornish had thrilled us all with his skill on the ball but now he had gone, the squad looked even thinner. Not even in my wildest expectations did I see anything happening today except a hammering for the blue and whites. 

Back fro a home game were Tom Flynn and Josh Nearney: both such important players in the line-up. Callum Anderson was named captain; days after signing a new 2-year contract. This was the first piece of good news coming out of Hillheads in a while and was very welcome. I was joined at the kick off by Long-haired Andrew and his son. It is always good to see the groundhopping pair but my negativity could not be contained as they questioned myself, Bob and Moira about the current Bay situation. One good piece of news was Kinnon's offer to read the Audible book of Albie: Fugitive of Tenebria ((https://goo.gl/U96Rfx) , although I'm not sure the Audible customers would appreciate his reading of each different chapter in a different regional accent. 
The first ten minutes on the pitch were edgy. Flynn was called into action in the sixth minute, saving smartly from Holmes. However, the football gods must, once again, have been angry with the Bay as another massive deflection, off an unfortunate Bay foot, saw Flynn deceived. That man Paul Robinson's effort sailed into the net. We feared the floodgates were about to open. For the next few minutes it looked ominous as Shields surged forward but slowly, the Bay regained their composure. With Chris Salmon and Tom Potter using both determination and speed to weave their magic on the wings, the visitors suddenly looked stretched. Brooks was unlucky to see his far post half volley charged down from a corner then Salmon came close with a curler.

Captain Callum, Graham Williams, David Hall and Aiden Haley's dogged tackling superbly combined with Peter Ravenhill's driving runs forward. The lads were more than matching their red counterparts. Nearney and Walker's surging runs out of defence were also helping to stretch the red defence. The football being played by the home team was exceptional, bearing in mind the state of the pitch. A particularly crunching tackle from Captain Captain set up another attack that ended up with PGR's shot being turned away for a corner. The blue and white section of the 749 crowd were lapping it up.

The referee then let the occasion go to his head as the enormously huge and towering Harmison firstly lunging with a high foot that crunched into the hapless (and much smaller) Williams' chest. As the two players fell to the floor, Harmison's elbow connected with his opponent's chest followed by the rest of his immense frame. The linesman thought he saw an elbow from Williams so the youngster was sent off while the big red lump was simply booked. The football gods were obviously having a laugh when they sent us this set of officials: Andy G was speechless. Any chance we could have a sensible referee at Hillheads? Half time arrived with the chance for the Bay to regroup.

I was also delighted to sell one of my books ((https://goo.gl/U96Rfx) to Chris, who seemed delighted to have something to do if the second half went badly.
The result of the sending off was only to drive the young Bay team forward and once they had adjusted to their new formation, they powered forward. Sean McCafferty had to be on his metal to turn away a cross from under his bar...

then Haley, fed by Nearney saw his long range effort saved.

A last ditch effort from a Shields defender prevented a headed goal. The Bay were on fire!

In between, Flynn was called upon to fling himself at a Richardson shot and Walker did well to close down Suddick. It really was end to end thrills and spills.
The Bay surged forward and in the 85th minute McCafferty looked unhappy at receiving the ball from a Shields defender. Sub Callum J and the Raven from the Hill swooped: the latter beating the hapless keeper before stabbing home into the empty net!

I wished that the game could have finished there and then but alas no. The gods of football were going to make us pay for having the temerity to score. Bainbridge it was who headed home in the 89th minute. To make my mood worse two delightful tinkers from my school decided to celebrate next to my ear. I was very controlled in my response. The single tear that trickled down my cheek the only sign of any emotion...if you ignored the screaming, beating of fists and kicking the concrete post that proved harder than my foot.
The final goal arrived when Flynn had charged upfield to help out at a corner. Dean Holmes it was who raced clear to score into the empty net.
The final score of 3-1 to Shields was a sickener but the Bay team had shown fight, resolve and determination. Whatever happens in the last few weeks of the season, we can only hope that these immensely talented young lads all decide to stay at Hillheads and we get an injection of experience. In my opinion this can only happen if we have a more open approach from the top... we want to support both the team and you: give us the reason beyond blind faith!

13th March 2018 - Sunderland RCA (h)

The silence from the top was telling. Reading the chairman's message in the match programme, there was no rallying call to get behind the team or explanation of what the club was going to do next. Instead, he talked about the Beast from the East which had paralysed the country in its icy grip. There was a welcome to Andy Gowens and Mick Mulhern but nothing about how he intended to support him. I know I expect too much! After all, Andy has only got until the end of the season. That's confidence!
Andy Gowen's notes paid tribute to Nashy and Co and the great job they had done. He also said how delighted he was to be back. He had struck exactly the right chord. He then called for everyone at the club to pull together to move forward. This is something that has to happen and all Bay fans hope this can happen. The wonderful volunteers were out in force, as always, and there were some new young ladies serving in Tommy's Tea Emporium. Mr MacIlduff was even visible near the turnstiles chatting to fans: a step forward.

Packed out at the Bay!

But the bad taste around Nash and Woody's departure still hung around as tales circulated about a board director who regularly and vociferously complained in public about how bad they thought the pair were doing. This cannot and should not be tolerated in the club and someone should have had a word. Personal views of the board should really be kept private and not broadcast. Instead, the situation was allowed to continue until the departure of our best management team in years. If, as rumoured, the individual still has a lot of power in the club surely for the sake of the club, they need to move aside. Until that happens, I can't see the togetherness that Andy calls for coming about. I desperately hope that Andy and Mick can pull things around. Good luck guys.
We had said goodbye to The Beast from the East and the Pest from the West now the Mini Beast from the East was looming on the horizon. As a result, it was cold. My arctic survival coat, purchased from NEXT many years ago, had been retrieved from the loft where it had resided for the last few years. It was my answer to any impending ice age that may come, along with my Bay hat and scarf. I was ready for anything. Unforunately not many had braved the elements as kick off approached: Hillheads was a bit of a lonely place. Maybe fans had been worried that if they had turned up they would have been asked to play. The new policy at the Bay may soon become: "If you are born, you are old enough!"

Available at:
  https://goo.gl/U96Rfx

It was great to welcome a new player, an ancient 19-year-old centre back Rhys Groves. He was pointed out to me as the 'big one' and he certainly wasn't hard to spot as he towered over the others. What was slightly worrying was the fact that the average of the Bay team was 18.54 (Thanks Mr Twitter for that!). Could we 'win with kids'?

Whitley Bay FC‏ @WhitleyBayFC Mar 13

Tonight's Bay side : Harley, Salmon, Walker, Haley, Groves, Summers, Potter, Glen-Ravenhill(C), Brooks, Johnston, Cornish SUBS : Jasper, Anderson, Bell, Hall, Brannen

Within a few minutes, the garden looked unfamiliarly rosy: the Bay had scored! I had been totally justified in taking time off from school work and planning my new book's launch. (for you sci-fi fans out there, it is called Albie: fugitive from Tenebria and is available at: https://goo.gl/U96Rfx - plug over with.) 

A great cross from the fit-again Brookster was turned in perfectly by the marauding Callum Johnson. The 216 fans were delighted and there was a palpable sense of relief at the goal.

This sense of optimism barely lasted as Sunderland's Colin Larkin was brought down by Whitley's Noah Summers, who was promptly given his marching orders. It seemed a harsh decision as there was some debate whether he was the last man. Soon after, the sense of unfairness grew.
Larkin found himself in acres of space and slotted past the on-rushing Callum Harley (in goal becuase the Flynnster was laid up in bed). The ball rolled along the line then appeared to hit the post and bounce out. The initial relief disappeared when the linesman ruled the ball had crossed the line before bouncing off the net's wheel. Naturally, this was disputed by the fans at that end of the ground. Harley produced his second quality save of the game, athletically punching the ball away to stop RCA taking the lead. In fact both Harley and new boy Rhys were looking confident in the makeshift defence, contributing a number of well-timed tackles and clearances. The 10 young Bay players bounced straight back, and took the lead again with 27 minutes gone. This time it was Matty Cornish who contributed a cracking curler from outside the box that left the RCA keeper clutching thin air.

Once again, however RCA were soon level. A failed clearance was finally headed in by Sunderland's Greg Swansbury.
This galvanised the 11 Sunderland men and they turned up the heat on the 10 men. Harley was forced to charge out of his goal to deal with a lose bouncing ball. His attempted clearance landed at the feet of RCA's right winger who fired towards goal but thankfully Chris Salmon was on hand to clear off the line.
The bald-headed Martin Swales, RCA manager, was dancing up and down the touchline, constantly roaring his disapproval at the decisions whereas, in contrast, Andy and Mick were calm; taking in the game and giving encouragement to their young team, which was good to see. 

...shouty, sweary bloke

Calm and collected...

Unfortunately, Mr Sweary was the one who was happier at the end of the first half as Stephen Callen put the visitors ahead. There was confusion as ref Craig Dean once again refused to blow the whistle to signal a goal: something the watching assessor would not have been too impressed with. 

The second half was predictably dominated by RCA. Although Harley and co battled gamely, the game was effectivelyover  when a  bout of ping pong in the box and a wicked deflection saw RCA take a 5-2 lead. By this point the Bay announcer had given up mentioning the goals, although he did do a medley of announcements when the sixth goal flew past Harley. 

Sub Jasper was unlucky when he almost beat the RCA keeper to a high through ball but it just wouldn't run kindly for the effervescent one and the final score was 2-6. 

Not the kind of start Andy and Mick would have wanted but these are early days and the fighting spirit of the Bay team was still there, although we need to have the experience of the likes of Flynn and Callum Anderson if the youngsters are going to thrive again.