27th January 2018 - Dunston (h)

It felt like an age since the last game I'd been to. Last weekend had been spent cleaning out my Mother-in-Laws house after she had passed away in May so the Guisborough Town game had taken place in my absence. There had been the usual pre-match text from Pogo Patterson wondering where I was but it was out of concern more than questioning my loyalty. After all the team were playing some great football, especially away from home where seven wins on the trot had lifted them to seventh in the league.
It was however, the home form that was proving a bit of a sticking point with one point gained out of six in 2018. The reasons were being thrown around like confetti: the fear of finishing in the top two and the enforced promotion that could bring about but the most believable one was the pitch! Despite being worked on in the summer, the Hillheads turf was not looking its best. The 5-2 win at Stockton had been played out on a 3G all-weather pitch: was it  much more suited to the Bay's style?

Courtesy of WBFC Twitter

 The pitch had had a bit of a trim and didn't look too bad but it sure wasn't a 3G or as flat as the Shields pitch. The rain, snow and wind that had battered it over the last month certainly hadn't done it any favours. 3G for Hillheads anyone?

The Boy Mark and I were joined by Running Keith and he was especially excited to finally receive the blue and white bar scarf that I'd ordered for the pair of us. TBM was indifferent to our return to the golden age of football. Rosettes and rattles are planned next, along with 20 Woodbines and a Whippet each. (He's already got the flat cap). Unfortunately my baseball cap will have to go but then what do I think I am? American?

Suits us sir!

On the pitch, things were looking good, with Brooksy on the end of everything going forward. With barely 10 minutes gone, the big man had put us ahead!

The strong wind that was blowing towards the Allotment End was a mixed blessing with gusts occuring at inopportune times and despite playing into the tornado, Dunston were taking hold of play as the break approached. The Bay were struggling to stay ahead. In typical fashion, with three minutes to half time, the score was level: Mark Fitzpatrick heading home. Thanks to a terrible dose of Doom-Cold (that only men get and is very very bad), I resorted to some orange locozade from the teahut and in the second half it looked as if Whitley could have done with some themselves. 

For the second half, Dunston battered away. There was very little for my video to record in terms of Bay attacks and it was no surprise when the Bay conceded. This time, it was Dan Halliday who scored. Two minutes later, in the 63rd minute, Liam Thear put Dunston 3-1 and that, as they say, was it. 

Final score was 3-1 and despite the fact that it hadn't been cold and also that there had been a very nice evening sky....

Appreciate the evening sky cause the football is....

there hadn't been much to enjoy for the home faithful. Hopefully, the lads will bounce back on Tuesday and then we can say we were concentrating on the cup! See you Tuesday!

6th January 2018 - Consett (h)

There was a great response from North Shields fans to Wednesday's #FlagGate and within 24 hours the Bay flag had been retrieved amid a lot of recriminations from both sets of fans. The unfortunate incident had brought a real period of cooperation that was great to see and the lads were certainly happy to see their property back They promised to follow the Flag Club rules more closely...especially the one about not leaving your flag!

Courtesy of @whitleybayfc Twitter

As for the visit of Consett, hopes were high after the win at 'The Morgue' (not a nickname that i feel comfortable about using). There was a welcome return to the starting line-up for Professor Wilko with PGR dropped to the subs bench while Matty Cornish was moved to the wing. Callum Johnston kept his place after his wonder-goal in El Classicoast.

There was a presentation before the game as Alex Kempster was presented with something in a box for having played 200 games for the club. He looked thrilled. I, on the other hand, was not so thrilled with the cold wind blowing across the pitch. It was probably the weather, combined with the black and whities charging a tenner for the visit of Luton Town in the FA Cup, that meant the stands looked distinctly empty. As it turned out, when the match kicked off, 307 hardy souls emerged from their various warm dwellings to brave the elements. Amongst them, I was delighted to see Running Keith so that I could avoid a lonely vigil of both flag and videocam. 

There were misgivings before the kick-off as we had to decamp to the car park end: always an ominous sign. In fact there was nothing really of note in the first 28 minutes until Callum Johnston was brought down in the box by the Consett keeper. The aforementioned Ross Coombe looked distinctly like the last man and should have been shown a red card: a fact that was pointed out to the extremely young-looking and nervous-looking Jonathan Urwin. Shivering in the cold winds and even colder stares from the home fans, the boy in black only pulled out a yellow. this act, I reasoned, would only matter if we lost.  

Up stepped the Mr Magic Potter to blast home a sparkling penalty into Coombe's top left hand corner. Keith and I magnanimously decided it would have been harsh if he had been sent off as well.

 I hoped we would not regret it.

It almost looked like we would soon after when Consett's Michael Sweet looked to have a tasty chance. Flynn saved. Once again the sugary visitor tried his luck. The Flynnster blocked that one. A final confectionery delight ended up at his feet and once again Bay's number one soured his celebrations with another save at the expense of a corner.

There was, however, a bitter pill to swallow in first half injury time as Daniel Craggs blasted from distance and this time the Flynnster saw it late and the ball slipped under his body.

By now, the Keithster and I had resorted to winding scarves, hoods, snoods and anything else we were wearing around ourselves to keep warm as the temperature plummeted and the wind grew stronger. It was no surprise that the majority of the crowd had abandoned the goal-ends for the protection of the stands as sleet lashed the ground. When we looked around, Keith and I were the only ones left behind the goal. Even the FlagClub lads had broken the club rules by abandoning their flag! Disciplinary action will follow!

The Bay were almost rewarded soon after the break by an overhead kick that would definitely have won the goal of the month. Coombes managed to get a hand to it but unfortunately the effort was cleared before it could trickle over the line! Spoilsports!

Next up Coombes acrobatically punched clear a cross  and when the ball was played  to the roving Jack Walker (there's only one...), his brilliant drive was tipped over acrobatically by Coombes.
The boy was on fire!

Unfortunately for the visiting number 1, he landed awkwardly on his shoulder and appeared to be in great pain. Not that his team-mates showed him much sympathy as they thought up a collection of unprintable gags about his painful moanings. The youngster was substituted and one of the subs was put in goal: winger Josh Scott picking the short straw. In the first attack he faced, he managed to punch clear under pressure but when the ball was eventually turned in, Consett's Ryan McKinnon was on hand to score a fantastic own goal. Maybe the day would be ours after all!

Alas! No! Ryan's misfortune galvanised the visitors and they roared back. In the last 12 minutes of play, they pulverised Flynn, Wilko and co. Their defence lasted exactly two minutes before David Dowson scored a peach to equalise. Three minutes later, the game was up. Mr Confectionery himself scored the winner. A final nail in the coffin was provided by David Dowson, who scored on the break. Painful memories of the Vase exit at West Auckland sprung to mind. We were cold and wet and we'd lost the game in 15 minutes...and it should have been a red card!

To rub salt into the wounds I was asked to stop off at Morrisons to buy some bread on the way home: all I wanted was to curl up in a darkened, but warm, corner of the house. 

3rd January 2018 - North Shields (a)

Posh teamsheet time!

Every New Year, since 2000 when the Milennium Bug was supposed to see the breakdown of civilisation as we knew it, I have been delighted to see January 1st arrive. This year, there was the added bonus of only 2 days to wait until El Classicoast. Considering the amount of rain that had swamped the country on Christmas night, leading to the original match being postponed, Bay fans arriving at the ground wondered whether the pitch conditions had been that different to today's: post Storm Eleanor. Conspiracy theories apart, Shields were going to be tough opposition whenever we played them and we were still without Professor Wilko at the back. There was also a shock to see Thibault on the bench alongside Callum Patton and Mr Juracell Jasper: none of whom were happy at being on the bench, judging by their glum expressions as they traipsed past.
As a fan, you want to see the strongest Bay team on paper out on the pitch but on paper isn't the same as in form and it is a tribute to the current squad that we have such strength in depth: new boy Callum Johnson starting up front with Callum 'two consecutive games' Anderson returning in defence. It was a bold move by Nashy and was one that, at first, looked likely to backfire spectacularly as the lads struggled to steal the ball from the bigger, nastier Shields boys.

Underused!

My new Christmas toy, a sports camera (a-cheaper-than-Go-Pro!), was looking distinctly underused as Flynn and co desperately fought to clear their lines. Sean McCafferty, in the home goal had had nothing to do and may as well have nipped off to the bar for a pint and he still wouldn't have been missed.
The home fans were celebrating when big Ben Harmison leaped high to score with a powerful header. The writing looked on the wall for the Bay. Long Haired Andrew and sidekick Thomas joined us and he proudly announced that he had never seen us lose to Shields: our faith was suddenly lacking!
Simply pleased not to be even further behind, we were shocked to see the Bay awarded a penalty when a random player, possibly Kyle Patton, was sent tumbling. Gobsmacked, we couldn't believe our luck. When Tom Potter apparated with the ball onto the penalty spot, prayers were said to the God of Wizardly footballers. We shouldn't have worried, McCafferty was held spellbound as Tom slotted home. It was an equaliser the Bay scarcely deserved!

Flag Club had been split up for this game...we just hadn't got organised! Pogo had arrived an hour early to guarantee he got a good spot and his two flags were being closely guarded in the far corner of the ground, away from Shields' own collection. The other Lads, Jamie, Carl and Chris, had planted theirs at the same end that Tom had defended but had foolishly wandered around to their usual spot behind the home goal. My own Tricolor remained in my pocket: a combination of my disappointment at the lack of French nationals on the pitch and...well, TBH, I just couldn't be bothered. The shame!
At half time I hung mine up and was shocked to find the lads' flag had gone! Only the sad entrails of it's strings and clips remained, dangling forlornly in the brutally bitter wind: some scallies had half-inched it! Sure enough, the back gate was flapping pathetically back and forth as if ushering the lads to continue their fruitless search into the darkness that surrounded the Darren Persson Stadium...
Third rule of Flag Club: watch your flag like a hawk!
The team must have realised the karma that had been disturbed by an act of opportunist theft and raised their game to dominate the second half. We didn't have long to wait before a contender for Goal of the Month arrived courtesy of newbie Callum Johnson's dragback-and-lob! There was a god!

Callum was unlucky again as the Bay kept up the pressure but suddenly it looked like everything might be going Pete Tong when a slip in the box resulted in the ball rolling onto an unfortunate Bay player's hand: penalty! This was promptly dispatched but Flynn was equal to the task and the ball struck him as we celebrated.
Soon after, Thibault, on for the limping Alex, went close then Potter curled the subsequent corner onto the crossbar. The lads held strong and at the final whistle blue and white hearts were leaping.

We were now only eight points behind our illustrious neighbours with five games still in hand. 2018 will be a great year if we keep this second half form up! Now if we can only find that lost flag!

Happy New Year!

2nd December 2017 - West Auckland (a)

On the Thursday, when the Northeast of England received its first decent coating of snow in seven years (according to my daughter), there seemed little chance of the tie going ahead. If Whitley had had it bad, then County Durham would be snowed under 20 foot snowdrifts relying on helicopters to drop off supplies. But no! The snow lasted a bit longer than usual but by Saturday morning, the snow had gone. Parkrun went ahead on the Links and apparently the West pitch was in tiptop conditioning. The pessimist in me had been hoping for a cancellation so that we would at least feature in the fourth round draw. Most Bay fans travelled honestly and with only dreams for hope. The 3-0 drubbing was at the back of mind. Yes, we'd improved, but enough to win in that there Durham valley? A true pessimist me, like!
The Boy Mark picked me up and we whizzed along the A1, in surprisingly a growing optimistic mood...

 That was until his car informed him that it was experiencing reduced power. His Astra duly conked out as we trundled onto the hard shoulder. It stubbornly refused to move. Was this to be the end of our Vase dream: the lads losing at West and us stuck waiting for the AA? We waited in silence as he kept trying the motor. There was nothing for it: we would have to stroke the dashboard and tell it what a lovely car it was.
That worked! We set off again, although slightly warily, and arrived at the Wanted Stadium....not a reference to a well-toned group of suntanned and sun-dried lads but we hoped we'd be "Glad we came".

A couple of desperadoes outside The Wanted!

Entering the stadium, sadly there was no sign of any other famous desperadoes such as Yul Brynner or Clint Eastwood but there was the unveiling of flag number four in Flag Club's expanding ranks. Yes Pogo Patterson had gone #flagcrazy.

Flag club's new addition - not the West Auckland fan!

 It was a fine sight but not one the local scallies appreciated as one of their number pretended to defecate on our prized cloths! This troubled Pogo, who stood guard along with the rest of his posse in front of both their pride and joys!

Just you try it! 

Despite walking past a number of times, the young tykes kept their distance; preferring to throw ice cubes, from a coke one of them had bought, at each other.

The game hadn't long been started when Adam McHugh in the West goal spilled a shot. Kyle Patton was onto it in a flash and, in what seemed like slow motion, he was upended by the aforementioned keeper's desperate dive. Penalty! Up stepped Kempster....

Bang!The scallies were silenced. It got better soon after with the Kempstervator played in by the buzzing Brooks. After beating one man, he unleashed a superb effort into the bottom corner of the net that I was just too slow to catch on video.

We were 2-0 up and the scallies slunk off to buy themselves more coke with more ice! Their return was delayed as West were awarded a penalty. Instead of returning to see our smug faces, they charged,  shared coke in hand, to the other end of the ground. They arrived just in time to witness the ball springing away from Flynn's goal via his left hand post.

 More celebrations at our end! Could this day get any better? Next up, Flynn flew across his goal to amazingly tip a West free-kick that was bound for his top right hand corner.

Our happy end....mostly.

Into the second half and the West Auckland wind was troubling my Movember-less upper lip. The beard needed to grow back quickly! However there was almost more delight when Brooksy powered onto a Thibault shot but his shot crashed onto the bar with the goal gaping. 

Worryingly, West got the all-important goal soon after, from an Adam Mitchell freekick that was headed in by Nathan Fisher. Suddenly the Bay looked jittery. West had upped their game and it was the Bay's left flank that was getting most of the attention. The ref decided that every time a West player went down it was a freekick and every time a Bay player went down it was play acting.

Despite the jitters, the lads were still creating chances to distract us from the scallies, who had decided to visit us after their goal had gone in and were trying, failing miserably, to hit us with iceballs. It was the Kempstervator who put a stop to our latest visitation as he rose high to head home: 3-1 to the Bay and Alex had his hat-trick! 

A quick round of "If you don't jump..." and the scallies shuffled off, muttering something about "seeing us outside". Pre-teens scare me sometimes. But this wasn't one of them!

Maybe we could dream! Five minutes later, the answer was a definite "No!" 

Another Mitchell freekick and another headed goal! The Bay were struggling with the incessant procession of freekicks and it was another one in the 74th minute that levelled the score. Soon after some of the scallies conducted a a lap of the ground to whisper the score to us then run away giggling. Eight minutes earlier we had been 3-1 up. This was not going well. I had a bad feeling about this.

The last two goals had been scored by big man Darren Richardson and from a corner some home fans could be singing "Feed the bear and he will score...." I assumed it was a bear but it could have been any type of mammal: whichever it was I hoped for the RSPCA to come along and remove him from the field of play. But they didn't.

Things went from bad to worse with seven minutes left. Professor Wilkinson threw himself at a cross, desperate to stop any bears, badgers or stoats getting on the end of it, and in the process was laid out on the turf. After a long wait, he was helped to the side of the pitch and finally substituted with a suspected fractured eye socket and major concussion. 

Even so, there was still fight in the Bay and but for our new least-favourite referee, we would have scored a potential winner. 

When West's Denver Morris tried to clear an effort from substitute Juracell Jasper, it appeared to bounce up and strike his arm which stopped the ball crossing the line. The ensuing scramble might also have given the Bay a couple of penalties but ref Ian Gittins gave us nothing. The ball then fell to Thibault, who was stretching for the ball and could only send it aginisingly over the bar.

If that had gone in then we would been a happy bunch come full time but with at least eight minutes of injury time to play and extra time, there looked only one winner: and it wasn't Whitley Bay.

Sure enough with eight minutes of injury time played, a cross from the Bay's right this time flashed across Flynn's goal and there was Arran Wearmouth to blast home. It wasn't as if we hadn't been warned. 

There was still a chance for Jasper two minutes later but he couldn't get his header on target and so the FA Vase slipped away from our grasp yet again. 4-3 the final score.

The lads had worked their socks, and almost eye sockets, off. (Sorry Prof). The only good news was that Professor Ross hadn't fractured his eye socket - just soft tissue damage and a monster headache. Alex had scored, what on another day, would have been a match-winning hat-trick against a strong and extremely talented West Auckland side. There was no doubt they had been made to work for the win but the lads had come so close. They had learnt a lesson today that's for sure and would come back stronger for it. We still have the League Cup to fight for so there might still be a happy ending to this season's story: just not the one we had dreamed of. 

The Boy Mark's Astra got us home safe but sad. 

25th November 2017 - Team Northumbria (a)

The appeal of a visit to Coach Lane to watch this encounter was not great. It was absolutely freezing outside. I'd already endured the delights (it was very tasty, actually) of Tynemouth Castle's outdoor Christmas food festival and wanted to stay indoors but today was the day #Bayflagclub welcomed a new arrival! Yes Pogo Patterson's flag, boasting a fine photo from the Bay's glory days, had arrived and was ready for its debut. How could I refuse to join in the merriment. After all the first rule of flag club is "Don't forget your flag" and the second is "make sure you turn up". The action on the pitch would take second stage today!

My little one is feeling slightly overwhelmed by his big buddies!

The pitch was in perfect condition but it was just freezing! The Boy Mark and I were not impressed...

Neither was I impressed with the match programme which certainly lacked content. I'm afraid I have a big problem with Team North. They are simply a club that I don't feel should be in the Northern League! They are a University team and should play against other university teams. My reasons for this are:

1. They have no fans to banter with or ignore.

2. They have no match programme ... That I could find...to spend a hard-earned £1 or £1.50 upon so you can scrawl nonsensical notes upon.

3. They have toilets that are outside the ground. 

4. It's always cold there.

5. You have to pay £1.50 for the privilege to park there! Obvs instead of a programme....

Our biggest excitement early on was watching two lads putting their video camera on a massive erection. I did, however, lose any remaining street-cred I might have had when I complemented them on their erection and promptly tripped over the stand, making it wobble...just a touch!

It's huge! Hardly seems worth it for that little thing!

What was worse was that the Bay were terrible. They couldn't pass to each other, control the ball or stop the hard-up students from running rings around them! I had given up the opportunity to spend time with my own student daughter, who had come home for a family outing to see Kasabian the previous night, for this!

We even went for our warm drinks five minutes early with the score at an extremely fortunate 0-0 for the Bay. It had been backs to the wall most of the half.

The second half didn't bode any better as we lost the protection from the biting wind of the other end's wooden fencing. 

One compensation about the ground, though, was the netting behind each goal, which was perfect for #Bayflagclub. 

In the 54th minute, the game woke up:

A curling Cornish free-kick was mishandled by our banter-buddy in the Team North goal (he was a good lad really) and there was the Kempstervator to krash in a screamer from twenty centimetres. 

Soon after, who should be on hand for a Charmey pass but Poster-Boy Brooks! A quick turn was followed by a crisp low shot under our mate! 

The Pin-up boy returned the compliment soon after as he laid the ball for our french maestro, Monsieur Thibault, who made the score 3-0. 

Even super pitches have divets!

It was at this point that all feeling and bodily functions ceased behind the home goal and we willed the referee to blow for full time. There was a brief moment of banter when we informed the linesman "that even the female ref isn't wearing gloves" as he raised his gloved hand to rule a Bay player off-side. But, there was only hollow laughter, as we beat our gloved hands together and shivered in our multiple layers.

#bayflagclub had long since been removed when the ref finally blew for full time and there was a veritable race for the warmth of various cars. How hard we are!

3-0 to the Bay but the lads will have to be ten times better next week in the Vase against West Auckland! 

PS Flag club may be extended for the FA Vase fixture as Pogo Patterson has gone flag crazy!

21st November 2017 - Sunderland RCA NLC -2

Compared to the Vase, 10 days earlier, there was a distinct lack of buzz around Hillheads. No hordes of juvenile Madboys making a din, just a few hardy souls who had braved the November evening: a paltry 166 was the recorded attendance! After the previous weekend's storming 2-0 win at Marske, the club must have hoped for a bigger crowd but the footballing public didn't oblige! One fan who did oblige was Woody, who had recently become the father of a little baby girl. After a quick visit to check mother and baby were doing well (they were) I drove him to Hillheads in my Bay battle bus. It's really a little Vauxhall Aguila, but it has been decorated with Bay mini scarf and blue and white ribbons: for making location in large car parks easier , obviously!

The pre-match conversation at the Allotment End was interrupted at one point by the news that Barry was going to begin running Dog Obedience Courses. This meant the next few minutes were spent thinking of dog references to use in the blog: "The Bay were finally let off the leash" and the Sunderland defence were looking a bit "Dog-eared". However only Kinnon seemed amused by these so that was the end of that!

To celebrate Woody's new arrival, Nashy's boys started well and, led by the vastly-improved Brooksy up front, were full of running so the chances arrived in fits and starts. Brooks, Haley and the lively Kempstervator managed to get shots away before a terrific scramble in the Bay penalty area was finally cleared without a goal conceded. This was all the impetus the lads needed and when Brooksy collected the ball from the hard-working PGR, it was a left foot, right foot then bang! The Bay were 1-0 up! A great piece of skill that he had previously only hinted at being capable of.

A couple of minutes later, Brooks' purple patch continued as he fed in the Magical One and he charmed us all with a wondrous strike! 2-0

The second half turned out to be one way traffic and fit-again Flynn and his defence had to be on their toes as they threw themselves bravely in front of everything that was thrown at them. When Stephen Callen pulled a goal back for the visitors, the writing seemed to be on the wall for the tiring home team, however a fit-at-last Thibault, youngster Kieron Brannen and England Schools trialist, Cam Cunningham, came on to steady the ship with new Bay pin-up boy Brooksy, Aiden Haley and the Kempstervator making way. The Bay had weathered the storm and at the final whistle has edged the close encounter.
2-1 to the Bay and a home tie with Penrith to look forward to!

11th November 2017 - Thornaby (a) FAV -2

For your added enjoyment, please read the segments of this blog in italics in the voice of David Attenborough. Thank you

Up a tree-lined narrow path, we find the home of the variously-spotted Thornabians. They mostly appear during the months from August to May after which they return into hibernation, or Spain, during the hotter weather. Today, we knew we would be treated to great numbers of them as today was FA Vase day: a special day for all the Lower Non-League species of Football Supporter. 

There was great tension amongst our group as we drew closer: we could hear the battle cry of the Greater-spotted, and younger, Thorabian. In time they would develop into the Lesser-spotted Thornabian, a calmer but nevertheless unpredictable creature.

The flag of the Greater-Spotted Thorabian.

The Thornabian is a generally friendly creature that lives in various spots around their home in Teesdale Park.  They are able to chat amiably about all aspects of Northern League football and are fiercely proud.

The Lesser Spotted Thornabian can be found at their favourite watering hole:

This can be reached through a long passage that allows it protection from the elements and any predators:

Some Thornabians take advantage of a nearby picnic area to enjoy the fresh air and their version of water:

Other Thornabians are shy, however, and prefer to watch from the safety of a high fence and hill:

The louder, Greater Spotted Thorabian (also known as Mad Boys) are quite happy to share their territory with visitors as long as they keep their distance. This all-male pack, greatly enjoy showing off with a range of musical numbers they can recite. 

The Greater Spotted Thorabian sometimes needs to be kept in check and one of our research crew witnessed an apology to one of the Thornabian elders for a misdemeanor that included the phrases "I'm sorry" and "It won't happen again". 

Generally, though the younger members seem to be allowed to play about in their own shed that had been kitted out with creature comforts such as 'leather sofas'. Maybe one of their number had put their feet on the sofas, we surmised!

More than happy to share their shed, just not their comfy sofas!

The Thorabians jump and leap about fuelled by their own special brew, Forest Fruits Strongbow, that is sneaked in by one of their group through a secret door (to a secret garden). For convenience, these are stored in a nearby receptacle (also known as a bin) to be surreptitiously removed when their elders are not looking.

Fuelled by their Strongbows, the youngsters follow the commands of their leader, who holds the sacred megaphone. Their medley seem to vary:

"If you aren't jumping, you aren't Thor-na-by"

"We hate Whitley Bay!"

Amongst others.

In this respect they resemble the Greater Spotted North Shields fan. This resemblance doesn't stop there as both species favour the use of the Red Cross Flag. 

Interestingly, when their team finds itself behind to a fabulous shot from Andy Robertson, they still carry on with their patter. The power of fruity drinks! 

Matty C is grateful for Barry's
words of advice.

Despite going ahead, the Bay were finding it hard against the determined home side, much to the delight of the kids next to us. At one point, Bay Denizen, Barry decided to share his wisdom, yet the the team still struggled even after that, despite occasional periods of good play,  and we were grateful to hear the half time whistle.

When the half time whistle blows, it is a signal for the Thorabians to leave en-masse for the toileting area, whereupon they mingle about, singing in the enclosed space, putting off those present from their business, before then returning to the the safety of their shed.

The second half started poorly for the Bay and it was no surprise when Thornaby equalised. There then followed a pile-on of players and supporters near the corner flag that built upon scorer Joe Hillerby. 

When a goal has been scored, there follows a ritual in which the Thornaby goalscorer is rewarded by his fellow males jumping on top of him. This inspires the younger Thorabians to run from their shed to join in the growing mountain of bodies. 

There was a sickening feeling as we watched the celebrations and the lads' body language didn't look good. Tuesday night was coming back to haunt us. 

The lads responded with some great football. Cornish forced a great save from their keeper before Duracell Jasper and Robo combined for the latter to thump a shot off the post. In between these strikes, however both Josh Nearney and Kempo were substituted after needing treatment: it was looking ominous. 

With four minutes to go, it looked all over as Mathew Robinson took aim from distance and his strike eluded fit-again Thomas Flynn's fingers. Lightning had struck twice! This time we were heading out and I felt the lowest I'd felt at a Bay match for many a day. The repeated pile-on seemed to feature over thirty bodies and added to the dejection we felt. 

We were stunned. We'd even managed to achieve a few "Howay the Bay" chants, ably supported by two Bay regulars on the touchline. Kinnon had also promised that if we scored a winner he would sing "If you don't jump then you're not Whitley Bay!" It was now all looking bleak.

But when you needed a miracle: who could you call? The Prof!

Matty Cornish's shot was spilled by the Thornaby keeper!

Lo and behold there was the Professor to bundle home the equaliser! It was Shields all over again: but this time in our favour. 

The Thorabians were silent...

We were delighted!

Sing in the bus stop!

Extra time it was, for the second time in five days. 

Whatever Nashy had said, it worked: the team were completely changed in extra time. Their passing was crisp and to feet, there was a spring in every yellow Bay player's step. It seemed logical, but improbable to us, that the Bay should take the lead: and they did! It was The Bay's Duracell Bunny, Scott Jasper, who slid in at the far post to connect. Right in front of the Thorabian kids! Bless them it must have been well past their bedtime as the Bay players converged on the delighted Jasper Bunny. Heaven was indeed a place on Earth and for that half hour, and for us, it was in Thornaby!

The icing on the cake was provided by the other supersub: Kyle Patton: sheer magic from Potter had lead to the ball in for KP to divert home. Amazing!

More reward, after the 45 minute drive home, was a typical Teeside delicacy: Chicken Parmo from our own Lebanese Diner, Aroos Beirut on Whitley Road. It seemed rather appropriate and tasty!

Can I have a free one for that plug?

The Shields game, though not forgotten, is behind us! Fingers crossed for a kind home draw in the 3rd round!

And so it was that the Thornabians and Thorabians returned to their dwellings in a bewildered and disappointed manner: back along the dark path they had wandered earlier with such hope and expectation. A hard lesson had been learnt!

HawaytheBay!