23rd and 30th March 2019 - a week to forget!

Mitre Brooks Mileson Memorial League Cup Semi final: Newcastle Benfield (a) 

I was so full of anticipation. Three wins and a draw under New Boy Nathan, we were the form team...for once. After a challenging day with years 5 and 6, it was finally time for the Mitre Brooks Mileson Memorial League Cup Semi final! What a name: runs off the tongue! 

Postman Neil picked me up at 7pm and it was soon obvious that me and Neil weren't the only ones excited by the prospect of this long-winded competition. Every piece of parking in Benfield school, sports centre and football club had been taken so we had to park just off the Benfield Road. 

We also had to wait for the mother who, having brought about five kids with her, hadn't realised she would have to pay for them all. The match was already underway when we entered and there did indeed seem to be a great crowd. Finding a spot behind the goal Whitley were attacking, we found Bob and Moira, who had vowed not to attend another game...once again. The excitement of the Long-winded-Cup and the current form had brought them all out tonight!

Without the Long-Winded-Cup-Tied Dan Lister, New-Boy-Nathan had signed Spendymoor's Christopher Elliott. A big gamble bringing in a newbie keeper for such a big game, we could only hope that it paid off. 

Unfortunately, Dennis Knight had decided to make things hard for the debutant with a thunderbolt goal after ten minutes.

However, before the Dementors could suck all the happiness from the Bay fans, Olly Martin pounced to level things.

We were excited! Even Bob was smiling!

Super-Olly almost gave the Bay the lead with a cracking bit of skill but his lobbed effort just dropped wide of the far post. 

With few chances, we were momentarily distracted by Benfield's new wood-panelled gym. From this facility, the good citizens of Walkergate are able to pump iron and watch the blue-striped Benfield batter their opposition. As it was, the Bay were creating the better chances. Unfortunately, the pesky Knight popped up with another goal and at half time, the Bay were unfortunate to be behind. 

The half time walk to the far end revealed another pitch-side gym, this time an open-air affair. Also there was, what appeared to be a four-person gallows next to a basketball hoop... nowt as queer as East End Folk!

Ex-trawler-fishing nets behind the goal,
complete with tiny ocean-formed barnacles.

The second half was virtually a write-off. Whitley were second to every ball and Benfield laid into the visiting defence. In the 77th minute, it was that pesky Knight who completed his hat-trick and it all looked over.

The crowd was thinning out as the final whistle drew nearer. But Super Andrei was on hand to help again in the 88th minute. It was Craig McFarlane who managed to pick up a loose clearance and his pass was seized upon by Andrei. Suddenly we had hope!

A large amount of hysteria had set in amongst the Bay fans behind the home goal and when Super Andrei let fly in the final seconds of the game, we thought all our Christmases had come at once. But no, our celebrations were cut short by Benfield's mountainous number five (compared to Kieran Brannen anyway) telling us it had gone wide. 

Surely, there would be a reaction the following Saturday against Guisborough! 

Guisborough Town (h)

New-Boy-Nathan would have the lads sorted. Poor Guisborough would be annihalated in a wave of Blue-striped attacks and goals! Wednesday would be forgotten about and excited hopes for next season raised again! The Spring sun that had warmed us up the day before would shine over a glorious Bay performance!

Courtesy of Whitley Bay Twitter

Alas no. It was cold. The sun had disappeared. The Boy Mark and I had enjoyable parkrun in a sunny Prudhoe but by the time the match arrived, le soleil had had enough, as had most of the Bay's support. 

Plenty of room to read the programme on a freezing Spring afternoon!

So it seemed had the Whitley defence. With 16 minutes gone, the lads were 2-0 down, despite creating and missing a number of chances. The result was not a fair reflection of the match but then that's football. "It's a funny old game!" one moustrachioed 80s commentator said often enough. 

Then it started raining! The Boy Mark, who hadn't brought a waterproof coat, disappeared with Kinnon, Gibbo, Claire and the rest under the cover of the new stand. Smithy and I bravely remained, to watch over the goalcam. 

At least we were rewarded with some sublime trickery from the Slippery Salmon, rounding the keeper to slot home from six yards. 

The equaliser almost arrived just before half time but first Salmon then Andrei failed to come up with the goods.

The lads had been unlucky but then you make your own luck in this game, somebody once said.

By the time half time arrived, I had been abandoned by even the hardy Smithy. Football was certainly not fun for me. 

Maybe a cream egg and a cup of tea would revive my hopes! No, it didn't. 

There were chances at the start of the second half but I wasn't feeling invigorated as they kept getting missed. Also the wind decided to join the rain in pounding us. Even David Hall's dad had to resort to his tent-like poncho that covered both himself and his electric chair!

Then Andrei was taken off along with Olly and Branners. What on Earth was NBN (New Boy Nathan) thinking of?

Guisborough scored to make it 3-1 to the visitors and that looked to be that! 

But no! Up stepped Jonjon Wright to launch an unstoppable shot home from the edge of the box. 

 With captain Luke Taylor putting in some great tackles There was unexpected hope of a happy ending. Would we finally manage a great escape?

No. 

Guisborough scored ten minutes later to make it 4-2.

 I went home, had pizza, watched Harry Potter and forgot about football.

23rd March 2019 - Consett (h)

For the first time in a long time, I sped up the hill. Although this was mainly thanks to Mrs Blogger giving me a lift on her way to do a spot of shopping at Silverlink, it was also thanks to that dangerous thing called optimism. Not something that I often have much time for: the sun was shining, I hadn't worn a coat (although I did have many other layers on) and the Bay had won two games on the trot. All good in the world?
In contrast to that, we were up against a Consett team that had found it difficult since 2019 had reared its head. Fourteen games with only two victories for our visitors may have been form that the PN Bay team (PN -pre-Nathan) may have thought reasonable but it was hardly acceptable for this new incarnation.
After my most popular blog for well over a year had been my biggest rant maybe ever, it had also had a response from one of the club's stalwarts. They contacted me, concerned for my mental health, to put my mind at rest. The club is thankfully not in as big trouble as I had feared and that there were still a great number of good people working tirelessly to provide the team and club that we crave.

Courtesy of Whitley Bay Twitter

The fact that the club don't own the ground may account for the fact that improving the buildings may not be a top priority. The way North Tyneside is up for selling off every available green space for housing means all sports clubs must be looking over their shoulder. Not that I am saying this is going to happen, dear reader, far from it, but these are tight times for everyone: including local councils.
For the time being, the team is on the up and New Man Nathan has brought optimism with him. The morning of the match, he took half an hour's training with the reserves and invited three of their number to join the first team warm up. If the Bay are going to run teams on a smaller budget then these talented youngsters must be given their chance. It is good to see that New Man Nathan has made it a priority to do this. Hopefully we will see some of them appearing before the end of the season.
For now, the lads on the pitch were doing quite well for themselves.
It was good to see Bob and Moira sauntering through the Spring heat with our friend Jane. Their insistence that they would not be back this season, after witnessing the shambles that was the Stockton game, hadn't thankfully lasted long. Also surprisingly, there was a certain amount of bonhomie coming from them too!
The crowd looked bigger than normal and it was great to see 378 had taken advantage of a lack of Premier or Championship games to see a good game of football: something we have been starved of recently!

I hadn't had time to set up my camera when visiting Kyle Hayes had to tip over a Luke Salmon screamer. Soon after, running Keith and then Woodie appeared with his daughter, for her first ever Bay game (mother was away for the weekend so couldn't stop him). She seemed to find the whole affair bewildering!
The yellow ball that flew our way certainly seemed to interest her as she keenly watched everything going on. Even the wandering Barry was studied closely!
The game was certainly lively at both ends and there actually seemed to be some very good football on offer!
For once, when the ball clanged into a random bit of yellow metal that appeared to be keeping the netting poles at the allotment end up, I managed to catch it and deliver it swiftly for the Bay corner-taker. No nerves: just instinct on my part!
Little Neil wasn't even phazed with the 'roar' that accompanied the Bay's opening goal from Andrei 'here to help' Ardelean. He was Johnny-on-the-Spot to slam home when a Consett clearance failed.

The half time chat was all about the quality of the football and Brexit wasn't mentioned once!
The Bay maintained the pressure in the second half but Little Neil was more interested in another little friend who was sitiing with her dad. She wasn't bothered that she missed...
Craig McFarlane hitting the crossbar...

A long-range effort that was dramatically tipped over by Kyle Hayes...

A Kyle Hayes foot that somehow saved a certain own-goal...

A leaping Salmon headed goal from a corner...

Another final Salmon leap that was flipped just wide!

Although Little Neil had long since gone home to get her tea at the final whistle, it was quite clearly her presence that had given an extra boost to the team, as if they had needed it! A superb team performance against a good team. Sitting in the Seahorse after the game, it was nice to see the Prof, recovered from his recent injury. It was even nicer to hear him say he hadn't enjoyed the game. Similarly it was great to say I had enjoyed it! Life was good again.
Roll on Wednesday and the big semi-final we have no idea how we have got to!
Haway the Bay: let's pack out Sam Smith's Park.

13th March 2019 - Whickham (h)

Courtesy of WBFC Twitter

The mood around the club had improved slightly after the 2-2 draw at Shildon. Recovering from 2-0 down had at least shown that the lads had the character to come back when the chips were down. New boss Nathan Haslam now needed to make sure his first home match in charge ended up with the Bay getting the points.
I still wasn't happy to be heading up the hill. It was cold, Storm Gareth (or was that Gary?) was blowing the brave few a merry dance and the Bay still hadn't proved to me that they could put two good results together. I could be at home, in the warm, marking 30 year 6 science books! It was a close call but the Bay won out. Judging by the crowd, I wasn't the only one to have had a dilemma as to whether to come today or not.
Most of the 203 decided to stay within the protection of the two stands. Even Gibbo, Claire Mac and co had sought shelter. In the interests of close-up goal action, I convinced Coventry Neil to brave the elements at the Allotment End.
There was plenty of space for us, that's for sure.

The two teams were wearing their traditional home strips of blue and white and black white stripes. I was certainly glad not to be watching in black and white as to anyone with a blue colour-blindness the strips would have looked identical.
It was Luke Salmon who tried his luck first of all, but his effort was tipped away by keeper Dimitrios Tsapalos.

Thankfully, the lighter of the striped teams made the trip worthwhile with barely ten minuts on the clock.
It was the skillful Brannen, back in the midfield in place of Peter 'the Raven', whose cross struck a defender and there was Luke Salmon leaping onto the chance to drill home from the edge of the box.

Things got better for the 203, as the Bay went further ahead. This time, the wind confused both Bay and Whickham players and a cross ended up at the feet of Olly Martin, who swooped to make no mistake with his volley.

The Bay were 2-0 up, which was nice!

The match looked done and dusted seconds into the second half when an attempted clearance rebonded off Luke Salmon and into the net.

However, the team that had dumped us out of the FA Vase and beaten us in the league was not going to lie down. The wind went against the Bay this time, as Dale Burrell launched a long-range effort from just inside his own half that sailed over Bay returnee Dan Lister and into the net.
Play immediately swung to the other end and we were immediately celebrating a fourth home goal. Olly Martin setting up Dan Wright to score his first goal for the club.

Neil and I were delighted! Unfortunately, back came the visitors with their second goal. The last 20 minutes swung backwards and forwards but with no addition to the scoreline, Nathan New Boss had secured a home win at the first attempt! 4-2 final score and so far so good for our new bald eagle!