1st September 2018 - FA Vase Q1 - Esh Winning (a)

Like being back at Leeds Festival...

Autumn was here but the Summer sun was still strong. A hard Whitley parkrun had seen me applying first aid to a very shocked fellow runner, come acropper, tumbling on the course...but he finished! Surely this act of kindness to my fellow man would be repaid with a Bay victory?
It was Pogo and I who set off on the 45ish minute trip to County Durham. It also looked like he had chosen the best option by wearing shorts.
I'd never been to Esh Winning before but those that had would often regale me with tales of how picturesque it was so I was excited to see it for myself. Interesting to note that the name of the village comes from the Saxon word for Ash and the Victorian term for a discovery of a coal seam! For all you historical vocabulary fans out there!
Driving through Esh Winning itself did not prepare you for the picturesque drive through the forests that surrounded the ground while the car park resembled more of a meadow than anything else as we parked up.
Everything said about the ground and its location were true as it nestled amongst the rolling hills and forests. Perhaps the groundsman had been admiring the view when he had marking the lines: that might have explained the wobbly halfway line. I wouldn't blame him if this was the reason: it really was breathtaking.

A bit of a wobbly one?
No less than four bus shelters on offer!

The usual big crowd of away fans had converged on Esh using service buses, cars and coaches. Worth noting was the number of bus shelters on two sides, with the more modern versions decorating the sideline while their more rustic wooden counterparts proving to be very popular behind the goal away to our left.

Sing in the cheap seats!

At the start of the match, the only real danger for the travelling fans was the number of wasps marauding around anything and everything sugary. On the pitch there was a quiet start for Liam Powell in the Whitley goal but he was lucky when Esh hit the crossbar. This happened shortly after Ramsay had driven just wide from a good position: after 20 minutes the game had woken up.
Powell came to the Bay's rescue when he saved well, before Olly Martin stole in to give the Bay the lead. Powell again rescued the Bay with an instinctive save three minutes before half time. Happily the final piece of action was provided by Jack Foalle - sprinting through, this time onside, to slot home: a fitting reward for the young striker who had constantly been thwarted by the linesman's flag.


In the second half, the behind-the-goal-gang relaxed amongst the long meadows on the bank or sat on the provided park benches. The warmth of the sun combined with the pleasant surroundings, and the 2-goal lead, to give an off-pitch chilled vibe to the occasion.

Things got even better for us as a Karl Ross cross was lob/volleyed high into the net. For once, my video was running! Shortly after Esh had once again hit the post, substitute Kieran Brannen sprinted clear to score with great aplomb...the condensation on my camera making it an emotional occasion!

Three wise Bay monkeys enjoy an afternoon in the park?

David Attenborough eat your heart out!

Although my camera then went to sleep, there were two more goals for the Bay - both to the Bay's Jack Foalle who completed his hat-trick. Yet again my camerawork had let me down for Foalle's goals but at least I was able to join in with his song: "Foalle's on fire, your defence is petrified!"
Fingers crossed, this week, there are two more wins to go with the last three!
"6-0 to the mighty Bay!"