21st January 2017 - Morpeth (h)

The last few years of supporting the Bay have, I have to admit, been hard going. As one of the biggest clubs in the Northern League, I don't think I'm being arrogant in saying this, we have had some pretty lean times since the glory Vase years and 2012 seems a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. Having said that, there have been some highs: last season's run in the FA cup being one, but mostly it has been hard going. Just like that team in the big Toon, we are living on distant glories, as Wednesday's 4-0 defeat away to Shildon in the league cup demonstrated.
So, today, I was not relishing the visit of the 'big boys' from Morpeth. Their fanbase is still growing on the back of their Wembley Vase victory and their ground is picturesque but low on capacity. On the pitch they have a strong team that the Bay have struggled to match recently. Two 3-2 defeats at the 'Peth may seem close in scoreline but in the Northumberland Senior Cup especially we were extremely lucky not to lose by more and only some saves from the flying Flynn and last ditch defending from a fearless Bay defence kept the lads in the game.
First topic of conversation: Aldi! Again!! Entering the car park it was once more packed. Saturday Aldi shoppers? Can't you use your own car park? Having just watched the first half hour of my French team RC Lens and witnessed them losing 2-0 at home to the crocodiles from Nimes; I was in an angry, and maybe slightly petty, mood and that was after recovering from the Trumpiness over the pond. Does he realise what his surname actually means in the Queen's English?
However, it was great to see more hard work had been applied to the pitch and the conversation with

Rolled, cut and dedivoted!

Mr Twitter and co turned to the noble state of the pitch: it had been mowed, rolled and.....dedivoted! Bravo to all those who gave up their time and apologies that I wasn't one of them. Sorry.
It was also good to see, for the second home match running the return of Russ: the supporting legend of the Vase era. He was in a fine, lubricated voice too and thoroughly proved my theory that sound can travel faster than light. Managing to organise his work to get to the match was the Bay's gain.
Talk of the pitch turned to the vision of not one but three versions of wrestling's Stone Cold Steve Austin! The bonces of the nearest linesman, referee and Morpeth's Keith Graydon all glinted in the fading afternoon sun to add extra spice to our off-track conversation. This went further off-piste, so to speak, as the subject of the original Steve Austin: the six million dollar man crept in. What were his bionic powers? Later on, the subject of the bionic woman came up and her super powers? Glad to say, Russ could recite the whole of the opening sequence to the original 70s series. Time well spent studying there! Of course a quick search on Google sorted out our conundrum on powers during a quieter moment of the first half.
The lads looked up for the game and were not giving any quarter but still flying Flynn had to be quick off the mark twice in the opening quarter of an hour to race out and clear from advancing strikers. The first occasion, the ball rebounded kindly for the Morpeth forward who shot past Tom but thankfully SuperMac was back to clear off the line. Flynn was then called on to make a fingertip save to keep out another spectacular effort.
The Bay were giving as good they got and new boy Gilbey's run into the box and pass found Peter Glen Ravenhill (PHR). Unfortunately, despite the pitch's good condition, he couldn't pull the ball from out of his feet and his shot lacked power and was easily collected by the green-clad (or was it yellow?) Dryden in the Morpeth goal.
There was better to follow when a bit of magic from both Potter and Thibault ended up with Professor Wilko heading home. Bay in take lead shocker!

It could have been better a couple of minutes later but PHR's shot flashed wide after great work from Tom Gilbey, racing through on the Bay's right hand wing. They were both working hard and almost had their reward.
Our jollity and merriment lasted four minutes before Morpeth's Mark Davidson rose unchallenged to head home. 1-1.  There was time for the mesmerising Gilbey to clear off the line as Morpeth pressed hard for the lead. Still it was better than we had expected: the lads were level at half time and we had taken the lead.
The Bay kept Morpeth waiting so there was plenty of time to discuss the farce that had been South Shields v Morpeth in the FA Vase with my 'Peth fan Keith. He, along with many others, had been stunned when their game had been replayed after 'Peth had just scored to lead 4-2 against 10 men Shields when the floodlights had mysteriously failed. Losing the replayed game 4-0, hastily organised at Morpeth in barely 4 hours, had exacerbated him, although his daughter, Eve didn't seem as concerned and a lot calmer about the affair.
There was more acrobatics from Flynn, saving another one v one, as Morpeth pressed. The visitors were not having everything their own way as two close offsides deprived the Bay of goalscoring chances. However it was Tommy Flynn who was working overtime, acting as an extra sweeper then racing back to make saves on his line. On 77 minutes he performed more heroics as he sprang acrobatically with a diving-swing-spring save to keep the scores level.
Finally, the pressure paid as man of the match Flynn was caught out of position, after another super save, and Sean Taylor scored into the empty section of the goal.
But still the Bay weren't finished and a belter from SuperMacD was palmed away by Dryden.

The 2-1 win hadn't flattered the visitors but the lads had worked hard and all over the pitch there were great signs that the Nash/Woodhouse/Moore era was bearing fruit with a greater emphasis on playing confident football. The aim now is to not to panic and support the management trion both on and off the field and allow them time to develop this young, talented team. If the lads can stay together for next season then all the hard work will be worth it. Just need to get a few wins to get the confidence to go with the hard work. Easy!

Btw: Well done on your Man of December award, Tom Potter! Magic and fully deserved!

7th January 2016 - Seaham Red star (h)

Basically, we owed this lot a return leg pasting. The worst afternoon many of the Whitley faithful had ever witnessed was the 6-1 thrashing at the home of our visitors. Nothing went right that day with crucial injuries and a distinct lack of substitutes meaning a miserable trip home on the first day of October.
My first rant of the day came when we watched a number of cars parking in our car park so their owners could go and visit Aldi. Hasn't the supermarket got its own big car park? I think if someone parks in our car park then they should be made to join us at Hillheads! Where were our hordes going to park their cars? Parking rage got to me!
Mr Twitter had been working imaginatively of late to enhance the Club's Twitter feed and his latest offering was the team sheet picture. Seven of the 11 who had taken the field for the Bay in October were in the starting line-up today and it was nice to see our our own Eiffel Tower of a player, Thibault Charmey, given his place in the starting line up after featuring in a great team performance at Chester-le-Street which saw the Bay win 4-0. Also making his home debut was new signing and Durham Uni student, Tom Gilbey to bring the number of Toms on the team to 3...was this a Bay record?

Thibault tribute flag and also a much improved pitch after hard
work put in by supporters and staff to flatten divots and cut it.

Apparently though it wasn't rolled!

The Tom Trio (and the rest of the team) started brightly and the Bay attack was causing the visitors problems, forcing errors in every position.However, as the half progressed, Red Star began to ease themselves into the game.
Gilbey was looking confident and both he SuperMac were supporting our two wing wizards: Kempster and Potter. Also looking bright was Kyle Patton who was being sent chasing some great balls from big brother Callum. Unfortunately his lack of physical presence meant he generally came out second best to the larger visiting defence.

After 16 minutes, it was our former favourite Birdy Bird who forced Flynn into a great save. This warning wasn't heeded and a few minutes later, Birdy was in on goal. The fit-again Wilkinson challenged him and was penalised by a penalty that Craig Lynch hit low to Flynn's right. Thankfully, the Prof wasn't booked. Next thing we knew, Callum A. was booked for kicking out at a Seaham midfielder as he was disappearing off into the horizon. The game had been turned on its head.
Next Callum Patton did an excellent impression of Superman as he avoided any contact with a defender's foot by flying horizontally over the challenge. The extremely tall linesman was only able to rely on his bird's eye view so he flagged for a penalty. Nice one! As the former Voice of the Bellend put it..."I could have fitted my grandma into that gap..." He's been missed!
Superpatton it was who took the penalty. 1-1

Better was to follow as the Bay went onto the attack again. This time it was Monsieur Charmey who robbed a defender and rolled the ball across the goal. We (me and the Boy Mark) thought that it had hit a divot and bounced past the unhappy Shawn Newbrook in the Seaham goal but it turned out to be Kempster's outstretched foot. A much happier half time crew headed for Tommy's.

Unfortunately just two minutes into the second half, Professor Wilko employed a less than studious tackle to give away another penalty that was confidently dispatched by Lynch again. Seaham went on the offensive and with 18 minutes remaining took the lead. Bradley Staunch powering a header home to make it 3-2. Revenge for October looked unlikely.
Then it was the Bay's turn to wake up for the rest of the match as they battered the visiting defence. Marshalled well by Wilko and Nick Allen, the defence pushed up the pitch as a unit to deny the Seaham midfield any time or space space to operate in and time and again they picked up clearances and began setting up attack after attack. The exhausted Thibault was replaced by Brooks and Callum Anderson by Peter Glen-Ravenclaw sorry, Ravenhill and the visiting defence were creaking. Brooks finished off a great move at the far post only to be denied by the offside flag and Newbrook was being tested from every angle.

Wild scenes of celebration!

With the game looking over, it was Super Gilbey who effortlessly curled the ball past Newbrook's outstretched arm and into the top corner of the net! 3-3: hardly a reward for the possession and effort put in but justly deserved.





As a footnote: Morpeth Town were winning 4-2 at ten man South Shields when the floodlights failed with 7minutes remaining of their FA Vase tie. Did someone forget to put 10p in the meter?

26th December 2016 - West Allotment Celtic (h)

Bossyboots!

The day started with the job of marshalling on the course of the Woodlawn Pudding Run where 900+ runners (fun and otherwise) donned fancy dress (some of them) to raise money for Woodlawn School in Monkseaton. After directing various runners/Christmas puddings / reindeer / Santas / Elves...etc it was a race home to pick up Mrs Bay-Blogger (hyphenated cause she's posh) who was coming for her traditional Boxing Day visit to the Bay. Managing to get in with time to spare, I finish downing a turkey / stuffing / sausage sandwich lovingly prepared by my youngest (for herself and then given to me because she couldn't manage the number she'd made).
My pre-match Boxing Day selfie was censored because Mrs Bay-Blogger had her eyes closed but it was good to have her opinion on the match. Her first insight into the world of Northern League football was that the Celtic keeper, Chris Bannon, was a "bit of a bossyboots": she certainly didn't pull any punches!

A crisp but blowy Boxing Day!

Just as I was noting down her analysis, Celtic scored. Mrs B-B informed me that "it was a corner that was headed back across and was possibly headed in". The perfect analysis...she pays more attention than I do...for once I didn't have to ask Mr Twitter what happened. For the record it was Liam Hudson who did indeed head home.

Return if the Bay bell!

1-0 down after five minutes made Mrs B-B feel at home...she's a Boro fan. One thing was clear, the wind was going to do its best to spoil the game and once again the Bay were struggling against Storm Connor...Barbara had only left on Christmas Eve. As a result Mrs B-B noted that the Bay weren't exactly "bossing the game". Again she was spot on with her analysis as every ball forward was either held up in the wind or fell to a Celtic player. The pitch wasn't helping ether. I presume that after the last time it was cut, which wasn't such a success, it had been left longer. This meant that the lads' attempts at playing football on the ground were being held up by a clingy pitch. Nothing the grounds staff could do about that. Tom Potter, on the wing was struggling to free the ball from its claggy prison (...er of Azkaban: sorry best Harry Potter reference we could think of - it was cold!). A welcome returnee was the famous Bay Bell; which had been missed. However, it wasn't ringing out enough for most people's liking because of the lack of bay attacks.

Magic man gets his reward.

I'd given up writing notes after missing out on the first goal and it was freezing but there was very little happening until a Celtic volley scraped over the crossbar then another Celtic shot came close.
An injury to Callum Anderson, early in the second half, saw him being replaced by Ryan Keltie and the Bay seemed to gain more impetus going forward. Finally Potter was flying more freely down the wing and the Bay's quick passing started to unsettle the hard-working visitors. It was only fitting that the wizard-winger produced a magical finish (I really should stop this, I know: sorry Tom) into the top corner of the net. Soon after the Bay were awarded a freekick and Callum Patton scored, with the help from Mr Bossyboots Bannon.

Surely the Bay would go on to steamroll our near friends? Not exactly! The pitch became heavier as the night drew in... or maybe the players got tired from running through treacle for the last hour; basically, the busy Supermac and Kempster ran out of steam. As a result, chances were at a premium. Our French revolutionary (I certainly don't remember many French players in the Bay team...), Monsieur Charmey and Kyle were brought on and both brought more attacking purpose down the middle of the field. Despite some nearly-could-have-beens and almost-weres, it looked like the game was over and we could celebrate our first win in five games but the wind had the last laugh. A hopeful punt towards goal caught out Tom Flynn as the wind blew it onto the crossbow. The ball dropped onto the touchline and Hudson was on hand to slide it over the line. Not a great way for the Bay to end 2016 but the fight and determination is still there along with a good team spirit and desire to play football. Fingers crossed, the improvement continues in 2017.
Tom Potter was rightly awarded the h2o man of the match!

I would like to wish all my readers a Happy New Year and hope that 2017 treats us all well. Also thank you to all of you who are reading this as I am now averaging an incredible 300-400 readers per blog.
Haway the Bay!

17th December 2016 - Sunderland RCA (a)

As a fan of most things from our Gallic neighbours across the Channel, I was delighted with Nash's signing of ex Paris youth player Thibault Charmey from those great players in the international transfer market: Guisborough Town. There was no way I was going to miss his debut: I could practically smell pain chocolat followed by a fricadelle sandwhich americain (sausage sandwich and chips). Complete with the Bay Tricolore I was grateful to fellow Bell-Ender (without a bell now, sadly), Claire for the lift to Sunderland. The Kinnon joined us on a very dry, crisp but cold day.
There had also been another signing with forward Peter Glen-Ravenhill signing from North Shields after scoring 7 goals in 5 games for the reserves. Both players were named in the subs. Staying put in the defence was David Hall after another successful game against Shildon that had earned him the man of the match award.

The bar...warm it was.

First stop, just to get out of the cold, was to the warm atmosphere of the bar, which was doing great guns on its pies rather tasty, apparently. Preferring to wait until half time (by which time they had run out), I headed out for the pitch to watch the pre-match warm-up. Disappointingly, neither the French maestro nor our hot reservist striker were in the starting line-up but that was only to be expected, I suppose: they have to earn their place.
As far as I can remember, whenever the Bay have played here, we have ended up shooting downhill in the first half and that is just how it turned out today.

Mince of a pie?
Nice!

My memories of previous defeats sprang to mind as the lads struggled. RCA were on the attack from the off and the Bay defence didn't look happy in the continued absence of Prof Wilkinson. It was no surprise when with 10 minutes gone, Stehen Callen coolly slotted past the exposed Tom Flynn. It could have been worse a few minutes later when a suicidal Bay backpass, led to an almighty scramble with Bay bodies being flung in front of the ball and then finally Nick Allen spectacularly clearing the ball first off the line and finally narrowly over the bar.

Not good for Shanksy.....up to 8 weeks
 out with geet hard tissue damage.

There was hope for the Bay as the ex-Alnwick duo of Liam Brooks and Adam Shanks looked to be linking up well. It was the Kempstervator who found himself out of luck however as his efforts were cleared off the line, having twice beaten ex-Bay legend (for ten minutes) Jonathan Carmichael. According to one Bay fan visiting from Malta, he had been indulging in too many of the old pies since leaving.
The second half didn't start well for Whitley's Shankster as he went down under a challenge and couldn't get up...or even roll off the pitch, as one sympathetic soul said he should do.

On came new boy Peter Glen-Ravenhall for his debut and he proceeded to hit both posts with two cracking strikes. It just wasn't to be our day.

The drama once again proved to be off the pitch as a paramedic arrived at the other end of the pitch. Assuming it was for Shanksy, it shut the youngest member of the travelling support for a few minutes, who claimed there was nowt wrong with Mr Shanks and that he'd be playing next week. We watched as the paramedic went one way and Shanks went the other like an episode of the Keystone Cops. It later turned out that one of the Sunderland fans had taken ill and was thankfully taken to hospital in an ambulance that quickly arrived. Shanks would have to make his own way to Cramlington hospital...couldn't see him wanting to be treated at Sunderland General somehow.
Finally, the French Maestro arrived on the pitch but with eight minutes left, it seemed like it was too late. He did have the chance to lay off a couple of good balls to the supporting Peter, Alex and Liam (boyband potential...? Don't think so) and did so calmly and accurately.
The final blow came when Mark Robinson slotted calmly underneath the advancing Flynn. 2-0 final score and once again the lads had been out-fought and out-passed, despite the luck not going their way.

Sad trip home.

What we need is a local derby next....
Have a great Christmas and see you at Hillheads on Boxing Day for the big game!

10th December 2016 - Shildon (h)

I missed the last two games due to trips away to see indie popsters White Lies in Liverpool and Placebo in Leeds. Avoiding the defeat at Guisborough and draw at Benfield gave me false hope of a Bay win. Even though we were facing fourth placed Shildon, I was still confident. After all in the away game, the Bay had recovered from being 2-0 down to secure a draw at the league champions. This Bay team, I feel, has more to offer, playing-wise, if lacking in experience. I was also looking forward to seeing the new boys Liam Brooks (Forward from Alnwick Town) and Matty McCarthy (defender from WAC) but both were on the bench and a surprise inclusion was the twinkle-toed elder statesman of Whitley football Chris 'I'm the coach' Moore. The rumour on the terrace was that he was actually making his ninth debut for the club although that was later scaled down to his third.
There was also the added draw, after the game, of a fans' forum. this also included the genius move of giving £1 off everyone attending's first beverage. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend but Mr Bay Twitter was in attendance to report back.
The Bay made the perfect start when a Shanks flick found Kempster. His cross eluded everyone and was perfectly side-footed home. The boys were back in town!
However, they weren't. Shildon suddenly seemed to step up a gear and the Bay goal was under siege most of the half. Shildon levelled from the penalty spot on 13 minutes, Billy Greulich-Smith scoring. This was followed by a chance for Captain Mac, but his drive at the far post only  met the side netting. The Bay were made to rue this missed opportunity as a flying Shildon player in the box, again meant the visitors being awarded a penalty which BGS slotted home confidently.
Shildon's passing was so much better than the Bay's and whenever the home players rescued the ball, their clearances lacked composure and accuracy so were quickly recovered by the visitors. Tom Flynn was a busy boy.

Shrinking Chocolate?
Not happy!

Our short-sighted group became slightly distracted during this period and so the conversation drifted onto that important and, often debated, subject of shrinking chocolate bars. With the help of Google, we solved the debate once and for all. The truth of it all is that Mars bars in the 1990s were 65 grams and are now a miniscule 51 grams (although in the 1980s they were only 49 grams!). Yorkies have gone from 58g (1980s) to 70g (1990s) and are now a teeny-sized 46 grams. (thanks to Confectionerynews.com)
There was good news in that Kitkats, Double Deckers and Lion bars have grown in size. But yes...Wagon Wheels are indeed smaller. This frequently recurring topic lead us to Tommy's Tea Emporium at half time as I indulged in some tiny Mars Bar action.

Our view from afar!

Into the second half and our view of the action was once again distant as Liam Brooks replaced the Kempstervator, who had picked up an injury and couldn't keep going in the second half. Shildon continued to dominate. Yes the lads worked hard but they just couldn't get going. With big man Brooks up front there were a few more high balls aimed at him but the visiting defence held sway.

Ripped shorts?

The on-field action frequently took second place to the antics of a group of young lads, all wearing blue and white Hair-Bear bunch Afro-wigs (circa 1970). Their constant cries of "Keeper, keeper your pants have split!" were amusing for a while but we eventually tired and when we returned to concentrate on the game, it went from bad to worse.
The game was effectively over in the 64th minute when the flying Lewis Wing took aim and his deflected shot beat the floored Flynn at his near post. The continued huff and puff from the boys showed great willing but they created few chances and the game finished 3-1; Shildon having controlled the game after the Bay's opener.
Not quite back to the drawing board, just a minor blip in this young side's progress.

Finally: good luck to Stephen Gibson who has been missing from the Bay line-up with a torn patella tendon and needs 6-7 months of physio and rehab but thankfully no operation. Get well soon!

19th November 2016 - Penrith (h)

The three Musketeers had passed their first test in permanent charge with flying second half colours so hopes were high against a Penrith side that had only lost one of its previous away games. But the lads would have to do without the in-form General Patton. On the plus side Professor Row Z (if we had one) Wilkinson was back to join the solid Ryan Keltie and improving Callum Anderson and flying Supermac in defence.
We were not happy when our comfortable spot in the Allotment End sunshine was ripped from our grasp by Penrith winning the toss...all because they didn't want their keeper staring into the sun! Didn't they know I needed the warmth of the sun to beat the man-flu ripping dramatically through my body? I vented, in a banterous manner, my spleen at the linesman as we tracked our way into the other end's shade.
The football in the opening stages wasn't much to get excited about but we soon realised that Penrith's 'tallest keeper in the league' nominee was going to be entertaining. Step forward Jonnie Jamieson...you were officially the funniest player on the pitch! His banter kept us going throughout the afternoon and he didn't even care if no-one was listening.
"We're only here for the fun!" was his first offering when a visiting chance went begging.
It soon became apparent that Penrith were going to make a real game of it and thankfully the Kempstervator was on hand to head off the line when Flynn found himself stranded. When an unknown Penrith midfielder fell over in the middle of the pitch, Jonnie was in stitches but with half time approaching, the game was turned on its head. Completely against the run of play the Bay were ahead: Robbo firing through a sea of bodies. Jonnie didn't hold back on his team.
There was a shock start to the second half as a mis-timed Bay tackle saw the visitors awarded a penalty. Up stepped Martyn Coleman and Flynn bailed out his team with a save low to his left. Jonnie commented:

Ploughed? Blame the frost and the rain!

"We would have a half-decent team if we had a forward." We lapped it up.
Next up on the catalogue of missed visiting chances was Andrew Murray-Jones, who managed to miss a virtually open goal. In their defence, the pitch was not helping. In an attempt to do something to improve it from Tuesday night (cut it I think) the Hillheads ground staff had ploughed it slightly...I'm blaming the hard frost the previous night...and the rain.
Another Penrith chance went begging to which our resident comedian remarked:

The noise was so great that it attracted Baby Twitter
 to investigate and pick up blades of grass for people.

"Can't hit a cow's arse with a banjo." which seemed a strange expression to us seasiders and maybe is more common in the rolling hills of the Lake District where cow-bashing is more commonplace.
To be fair to the Penrith forwards, they were doing everything but score: it just wouldn't go in, thankfully. Tommo was in inspired form and a spectacular overhead kick from Bobby Atkinson saw our young keeper tip over in an equally dramatic fashion.
"Cheated every week!" railed JJ.
Captain Supermac still managed to lead a breakaway charge and his effort was tipped over by Jonnie J. Next up it was Robbo, who was unlucky to flagged offside when he scored.
"Cheated every week!" we informed JJ.

The last act of the game was played out in true ice hockey fashion. With Penrith awarded a corner, up popped our favourite! JJ was going to show the strikers 'how to do it' . The corner came in, was missed by all the visiting players and was cleared up the field to the marauding Kyle Patton. Still with plenty to do, he managed to beat a Penrith defender to the ball then racde in on goal. Still with plenty to do he coolly rolled it past a final desperate defender into the empty net. We got quite excited. JJ not so.

A fantastic end to an exciting game. The lads had dug deep and come up trumps. The Bay were in the lofty heights of 5th! Tommo: the Flynnster was rightly named GBOM. Good Boy!

15th November 2016 - Bedlington Terriers (h) BMM League Cup -2

Marc Nash was the boss permanently with Anthony Woodhouse and Chris Moore as his assistant and coach respectively. What an opportune time for Paddy Atkinson to bring his greatly improved Terriers team to the Bay. Paddy, Mr Angrypants, wasn't all bad apparently since, I was informed, he had paid for tracksuits for the team when he arrived at the Bay. What a nice man...he's gone up in my estimation then.

Old school Justin Bieber....?

Still without the Shankster, who was watching on, it was the same team as Saturday's win but with Callum Anderson coming in for Professor Wilkinson. Callum had certainly changed the game along with Kyle Patton when they had come on in Washington so it was good to see him getting a start. Keltie and Allen were working well together in midfield and it was the Bay who started the strongest. Twice Kyle Fryatt jinked his way towards goal. the first time he ended with a trickling shot and the second, he ended up flying perfectly through the air to land in an undignified heap. Then it was Robo's turn to get a good chance but the chance was missed when he should have taken a shot first time.
It was nice to see our favourite Pixie in goal: ex WAC keeper, Jak Wells but this time he arrived complete with a new haircut. Gone were the flowing grungy locks to be replaced by an old school Justin Bieber look. Next time we see him...the skinhead?
The Bay were playing some great stuff but Flynn still needed to be on his toes when the Terriers' Kyle Oliver hit a shot that screamed past his left hand post. Next it was the Kempstervator who found Justin Bieber's legs too tricky to nutmeg.
The lino was doing his best to help out the Terriers when he informed their left back how poorly he was doing in playing our forwards offside. "Unfair!" we cried.
Finally, a fantastic cross from Callum Munroe was met by Robbo's bullet header. Justin was not happy!
We were delighted to welcome back a fit again Tommy at the Tea Emporium after a period out of the kitchen through illness. Boy, can that man make tea.....and errrr, hot chocolate.
The Padster had obviously had a quiet word with his team as the visitors took control of the second half. Another great fingertip save from Flynn kept the visitors out, then it was a lobbed effort from the half way line that had Tommy boy backpedalling. Thankfully it just drifted over.
Whitley's luck ran out when the Terrier's Paul Wardle left Flynn grasping air as he headed home.
Back came the Bay, however, and it was the General who met a magical cross from the wing wizard Potter with a volley over his shoulder.

There was more delight as the Kempstervator headed home, allegedly with his eyes shut, on his 150th Bay appearance. He was pleased with that!

Next, it was Supermac with a screamer from outside the box that the Bieber-like had no chance with. We were then in heaven when Robbo attempted a perfect reverse-flick-cross-type-thing that landed in the visiting crooner's relieved hands. Moira, just returned from her holiday in South Africa...we've seen the photos...then told him to watch his language and just "Try to Laugh it off." Jak just looked at her and replied "Do I look like I can just laugh it off?" with a cheeky smile before launching into a rendition of "No Pressure" from his 2015 album Purpose.

Push it! Push it real good!

Isn't Google wonderful.
As the goals dried up for a while, we contented ourselves by singing Spinderella and Salt and Peppa's "Push It" before we were sent into our final moment of ecstasy for the evening...A wonder-strike from youngster Jack Cooper!
1-2
1-2-3
1-2-3-4
5-1
Could have been the chant....but instead we admired the new Aldi on driving out the Car Park. We were still in a cup!