6.7.19 Durham United (a) Friendly

I love this time of the footballing year. The weather is warm (it actually was) even in the Northeast, the pains of the previous year (s) have been nailed shut in a darkened box at the back of my mind, the teambuilding has been continuing at great pace, the right noises are coming out of the club with regards the hopes and expectations for the year...
What more could you want?
The Boy Mark and running Keith were involved in a stupidly-long Chevy Chase 20 mile trail run so couldn't make the game. I put out a request for a car share on the club's Twitter feed and Paul the Miller answered my call.
Picked up outside the little Sainsbury's, by him and his great children, in an extremely comfortable Mercedes was the perfect way to start the season. Conversation opened with the Women's World Cup and England's defeat in the semi-final (as well as their appearance on bottles of Lucozade sport) and eventually ended with today's game.
Optimism was the order of the day. We had Mr H2O bathrooms, Martin, to knock some business sense into the board along with Duncan Howell as the new commercial manager. Knowing both to be popular figures around the ground, the hope is that we can advance as a club commercially, building on the great work started by Ann Barkas. There is so much potential here, as long as it can be realised. All together we seemed to be heading?
There was a delay and a diversion to avoid a traffic jam at Testo's roundabout. Fancy closing off the A19 knowing that there would be hordes of Bay fans streaming towards Durham!

Possibly the only team sheet for the Big Match
1st half and 2nd half team.
Courtesy of Julian

To be honest (TBH for the kids), I was expecting at least five goals for the Bay but it soon became clear that the home team were no mugs. A young side that had been promoted to the Wearside League looked solid and the strange mix of players for the Bay's two teams meant there were so many introductions to be made.
As per usual, I hadn't much idea who anybody was, except for Lee Kerr, whose bald head shone like a halo in the afternoon sun.
The lads played some great stuff at times but there was a distinct lack of sharpness in front of goal.

A breakaway effort was saved well by the keeper and then another effort was expertly turned onto his own post by a Durham defender. There was, as usual, a lot of really good approach play few goalscoring opportunities.

Another great save followed but that pessimistic part of me was wondering when we would be made to pay. Sure enough, Ball, trialling in goal, made a bit of a balls-up of a clearance and there was Durham's ex-Doctor Who Matt(hew) Smith to slot into the empty net.
Little Gibbo and I were not impressed!

Another chance for the Bay was dramtatically turned away by Durham's keeper before half time called an end to a slightly underwhelming first half that reminded me that Rome wasn't built in a day.

I promptly set off around the pitch to get my place for the second half (before the crowds stole all the best spots) then had to re-trace my steps when I came up against the big sign that had been staring at me on the even bigger fence that was blocking my way. The sun had obviously got to me!

In the second, it was a completely different, and more experienced, Bay team. Right from the off, there seemed to be more purpose about them. Peter the Raven looked twice as fierce with his new 'Sparky' hair cut. Unfortunately, his difficult efforts on goal were generally wayward. In true fashion, however he kept running and was always in the right place, if not on target.

There was a great deal of fight in this new team and a determination not to give up and to show the 'young'uns' who were the bosses. New boy Michael Annang-Colquhoun, from South Shields, kept battering impressively away, collecting balls he had no right to win and shielding them so well with his body.

Max Emerson, promoted from the reserves also looked promising as he too caused problems for the United defence.

Despite a couple of freekicks that were well-saved, Durham, and their keeper were still holding the Bay at bay.
With time running out, it was Michael who was the 'fox-in-the-box', scoring in added time. There was still time for another of the Raven's efforts to sail wide but we had to be happy with a draw and some great football played.
Did I enjoy that moment though?

Courtesy of Whitley Bay FC Twitter