21st October 2017 - Westella and Wellerby A (FAV - 1)

How excited can you get? It was the FA Vase away to both Westella and Willerby…and a trip on the team bus. Having been brought up on the Superstars of Newcastle United, it never ceases to amaze me how refreshing it is in non-league football that the players and supporters are so close. The close proximity to visiting players avoids the recently seen stupidity of grown men carrying children while they try to punch visiting players, Everton v Lyon in the Europa League, because the two groups are not separated by money or ego. There are egos in non-league footie but there are so many more decent players and fans who just love the sport as well as their club. Today’s trip seemed totally bizarre all the same; I suppose it’s like children realising that their teachers don’t actually sleep at school and have a life of their own. Footballers are human beings too: whether they are amateur or professional and as I was to find out, the Bay players are a great set of lads but they certainly didn’t see themselves better than the rest of us.

The sun was shining as the supporters’ bus set off for Hull and despite the warnings about Brianstorm, Whitley Bay was having a good morning. Nashy was wearing his new trainers and he said that some of the injuries were clearing up after a troublesome week with two defeats and more injuries.

The mood was upbeat and confident despite recent results. The team bus fell into four separate sections:

1 the old guard at the front,

2 the team at the back

3 a front-rear section of myself, the Kempster Support Unit, Darren Kitman and Jake ‘Magic Hands’ WBTV fame

4 a rear-front section that allowed Mr Chairman to have his own space with his Telegraph newspaper.

The trip itself was uneventful and quick so we were soon, a little bit over 45 minutes I think, making our way up a dirt track. There was a brief Mexican standoff with a red Fiesta that didn’t seem to want to let the coach park anywhere but our much bigger bus finally won. We parked up with instructions to “Let the players off first” which gave us the chance to wish them all luck. 

Great flag: well done lads: remember shoelaces and clips!

There was a newcomer to the Whitley Bay flag of the year award that I had awarded myself last year but the lads in charge of it hadn’t thought through how they were going to attach it. They had brought cable ties, which were not able to stretch around the large concrete posts. Luckily, I was on hand to share my experience of flag erection (shoe laces and carabina clips). There was also a handy sign advertising the bar upstairs to help anchor their flag.

The ground itself had some interesting features:

An ornate hand towel in the men's toilets that sadly lacked any towel.

 An extremely comfortable, if a little breezy, al fresco balcony.

A well-stocked bar that included all the essentials you need in life: alcohol, chips and sausages.

Inspirational poster

Aforementioned balcony for the great and good of Whitley society to look down upon the Hoi Poloi.

Mr WBTV had managed to get himself set up on the luxury veranda and made use of an extremely stylish ASDA carrier bag to protect his wares from the element. However, I realised that the veranda was not for the likes of me as the wind blew my nearly-finished pint over the extremely stylish B and Q plastic table. I was a pleb and my place was by the pitch’s edge.

The team took to the pitch in a positive manner. Still without Haley, Thibault and Flynn there was a return for Callum Anderson and a well-deserved start for Matty Cornish after his recent roles as supersub.

However, there was a shock in store as a scramble in the box ended with the ball being hooked over the grounded Lister. “Foul” we cried but to no avail. The bald-headed linesman had given the goal.

Dan was then called into a superb double save as he beat out a shot from the edge of the box then had to leap up to deny another long-distance effort. This didn’t look good. My mate, Fletch, from my school days who lives in Hull, was afraid of becoming the sacrificial scapegoat for any shock result but suddenly the lads woke up. Jasper stung the opposition when he latched onto Kempster’s super cross to make it 1-1. Then it was Josh’s turn to strike and give the Bay the lead.

Wahey!

There was a moment of panic when a supremely confident shout in the Bay penalty by a defender resulted in the ball bouncing over his head. Luckily, Lister was on hand to snatch the loose ball. The ball was quickly delivered forward and it was Kempo, again, who came up with a salsa shuffle, with extra chilli, before slotting home number three: 3-1.

Next up, the normally unflappable Professor Wilko, reacted to a set of studs down his calf and the opposition number 10 threw himself to the floor, in a tremendously dramatically fashion. The ref waved a card at the grounded actor and we breathed a sigh of relief.

Fletch was extremely impressed with the Professor, who he likened to a cross between Treebeard and a man-mountain. Either way the home forwards were to find no way round him.

Peter Glen-Ravenhill was to provide the icing on the cake when his freekick from near the halfway line was picked up by Brianstorm and beyond the fed-up home keeper: 4-1.

At half time Brianstorm picked up pace and it became obvious that there would not be a repeat of the goal action we had just witnessed.

Brianstorm breezes in!

The second half play was a struggle against the elements and when Matty Cornish was withdrawn for an extra forward we realised that in these conditions, a midfield was not needed. The big boot was the order of the day. Nashy's master stroke worked and with Robo on for Jasper and Brooksy for Cornish the chances followed as the ball held up for the oncoming waves of Bay forwards. 

At the other end, Mister Lister had to be on his toes as his goal was subjected to an aerial bombardment. He tipped over two successive efforts but the final word belonged to Potter who kept his cool to score a late penalty: 5-1. The bay were into the second round!

A quick bit of food for the lads in the bar....

 ...and a chance to err...mingle with the opposition team...then it was off to Tesco to stock up on liquid refreshment. The journey home featured the initiation of new boy Chris Salmon, who couldn't play because he was cup-tied. His version of a Rick Astley classic into a banana was very entertaining. Preceding this, Mr WBTV performed more magic and the lads lapped it up. 

All in all a great day out and a lucky escape from Brianstorm. Hawaythebay.

Chances of a return here to play Hall Road Rangers in the next round? Their win at Ashington made this a possibility.

Tuesdays 3rd and 10th October - Washington and Ryhope CW (H)

A Tale of Two Tuesdays

Our tales are in stark contrast but could have ended up the same way, if not worse! They both started with a similar standard of Bay play but luck played its merry dance in different ways.

Washington

We begin our first, a sorry tale, on an average Tuesday night in a little town on the northeast coast. Twas a crispy, chilly evening and a lonely French Tricoleur billowed in the wind that whipped about the hardened locals who had come to witness the might of the Bay take on their lowly visitors from Washingtonshire.
These brave souls however were, 47 seconds into the game, shocked by former Knight of the Bay Robbie Williams-on reneging on his promise to 'offer protection' (gratifications Kinnon), as he put the lowly visitors 1-0 up. Unfortunately, your lowly storyteller was too busy admiring the piles of crisp autumn leaves to spot the action so I can offer no more tragic details beyond the stark facts: the Bay were losing 1-0.
The tale for the next 90 minutes was to be one of unrequited love and revenge. The visiting goalkeeper, Dan Gladstone was returning to the club where he was almost always the goalkeeping bridesmaid. For the next 90 minutes, he pounced, stretched and leaped to keep out the Whitley attacks; frustrating the home faithful.
Those self-same faithful sought solace in sustenance and thus was born: PIE CLUB!

The first rule of PIE CLUB is: don't talk about PIE CLUB!
The second rule of PIE CLUB is: Kinnon gets them.
Thus the faithful devoted themselves to their pies and chips (with gravy of course) as the traitorous Gladstone performed his dastardly best. Their strength gradually sapped away until the closing minutes when the chink in Gladstone's armour was finally exploited.
A snatched shot from Sir Aidan of Haley whipped through a crowd of defending knights and The Gladstone saw the blow late. He managed to palm it away only for Sir Scott 'the Wasp' Jasper to slide in to score.

The faithful cheered their brave combatants on but The Gladstone was not to be breached twice. A draw the honourable result!

The sad remains from PIE CLUB!

On the way back to my mud hovel, I was honoured to meet Sir Baldie of the Bruce who offered his one rule for PIE CLUB: thick crusts! Who was I to argue?

Ryhope CW

Our second tale is one of glorious victory after unprecedented trials and tribulations. The Bay had been denied two of their most formidable warriors: Tom of the Flynn and the Gaelic Giant Thibault of Paris. Both had been wounded in the proud 2-0 victory over the Seaham clan. Their wounds were to deprive the Bay of their heroes for many weeks. The faithful were worried. From over the waters rode the noble Sir Dan the Lister to aid our cause. We had called and he had answered: hoorah!
On arrival, there was the sight of one of the Ryhopian warriors complete in his playing regalia stocking up on supplies at the local burger hostelry. Whether he was stocking up on carbohydrates or trying to join PIE CLUB was not our place to guess but we hoped that it would slow down his team.
However, instead those who had climbed or descended the big Hillheads grew more and more fearful as Sir Dan was called upon to perform his acrobatics time after time.
With just over half an hour gone, the visiting warriors made the mistake of beating Sir Dan only to hit the bar. This simple act awoke the raging beast that was Sir Peter Glen of Ravenhill. He had had enough and when the ball was headed across goal, Sir Peter roared that it was his and slammed home from 15 English yards. The relief around the playing arena was palpable!

The Bay beast was suddenly roaring! A few minutes later the Bay peasants were cheering their heroes again when Sir Kyle of the Patton curled a shot goalwards only for it to be directed into the net by a hapless defender. 

 At the interval, the good people of the Bay were able to refresh themselves with their chest puffed up by the two strikes that had been completely against the run of play!

Oi! Peasants! Buy our tasty tomato soup!
The Bay's rich merchants peddle their wares!

Into the second passage of play and Sir Peter-Glen of Ravenhill was still raging and it was he who put the goal count to 3-0 with the Merlin-like Potter crossing for Sir Peter to slot home.
Soon after the visiting dastardly Daniel Lay of Ryhopeshire laid out Sir Jasper with an atrocious tackle that forced him to sadly retire to the medical tent. Dastardly Dan, for his part, sought forgiveness in the local monastery.
The extra man advantage allowed the Bay to go nap. First Sir Kyle of the Patton backhealed into the visiting net...

 ...then it was Liam of the Brooks' turn to meet a delightful chip from superiorsub Sir Matthew of the Cornish: 5-0.

There was more wondrous skill from the south-western man as the Cornish jinked his way past keeper and defenders. Unfortunately, his shot bounced off the post. Thankfully man of the moment Sir Peter slid bravely in to score! He would be able to quoff his hat in public after that three-goal trick!

6-0!
If you had asked the visiting goal defender, Johnny Ball to 'think of a number' of goals he'd concede,  he certainly wouldn't have chosen seven but that was exactly what happened. Matty of the Cornish thrilled the peasants once more before blasting home the final goal.

The mood leaving the ground was in complete contrast to that of the previous week: it certainly had been a Tale of Two Tuesdays!

NB: I wish to forget the following match at home to West Auckland so the next blog will be direct from the TEAM BUS as I journey the 44+ a little bit to Westella and Willerby! Very excited. #HawaytheBay!

Saturday 30th September - Ashington (h)

Courtesy of Julian Tyley

The trip to the ground started with a meeting with my 'number one fan', Baldie Bruce, who was collecting money for his forthcoming sponsored bike ride from Cambodia to Vietnam to raise funds for the charity Smile for Life which works with disadvantaged and disabled young people in the North East.
For more information see:
 http://www.smileforlife.org.uk/
The man himself is always quick to complement me on the blog and I will never let him forget his description of the blog as "short enough to avoid being boring".
Praise indeed from the follicly challenged one. Good luck on the ride, mate!
With regards the match itself, today's opponents, Ashington were the veritable bogey team for the Bay. The previous year, Harmison's boys had stuffed the Bay 5-1 and I had forgotten the last time the Bay managed to overcome the visitors. This lack of success had obviously been felt by the lads as they tore into the visitors. Kempster, on the left wing was finding acres of space and made the most of it. So it was, after the lively Brooks had been denied and Robo had shot just wide, that Kempo came up with the goods.
In acres of space, he slid the ball towards Robo but both the Bay forward and the Ashington defender keeping him company failed to make contact. So too did the Ashington keeper and the ball bounced untroubled into his net. Which was very nice of him.

The only worry for the home fans was when the Ashington number nine collapsed under a challenge from Callum A. The Bay defender looked to be giving his opposite number a hand up and a word of consolation but the visitor didn't seem to take it that way and the next thing we knew there was a push and shove that looked like it could get wuff. Thankfully there was no bookings and the pair seemed to be best of friends...after the game.
  For the rest of the half, the Bay battered Ashington but failed to extend the score so were disappointed to only be 1-0 up at the break.
The majority of the second half is one that Bay fans will want to forget as Ashington turned everything on its head. With four minutes gone, a game of ping pong was ended by Ashington's #3 whose pinpoint shot beat Flynn: who had initially beaten out the first shot. Worse was to follow. The second Bob The Sage had uttered the immortal words "Whitley don't look like they've got going. Ashington were 2-1 up and looking good value for their lead.

Wet work for a break-dancing Thibault

The Bay really shouldn't have come out for the second half as the normally dependable Flynn sliced his clearance into touch when he had been aiming to set the Bay attack away through the middle. Had something been slipped into the lads' half-time hot chocolate? Whipped cream? Marshmallows....when Nash and Woodie had been formulating their masterplan?
It looked to be all over before Flynn came to the Bay's rescue with a fingertip save against Ben Harmison then followed it up with a one-hander to keep the Bay in the game.
The rain that had stotted down in the middle of the half created a double rainbow and most of the home fans probably wished they could have gone looking for pots of gold instead of remaining at the ground but at least the rainbows acted as a distraction, as many, myself included, looked to take the best rainbow pic. My entry is below:

The brave bay fans take cover....

....on both sides of the pitch.

The rain finally stopped and suddenly the Ashington defence were on the back foot thanks to the introduction of supersubs Cornish and KP.

Deep into stoppage time, after The Prof had been pushed forward to help the attack, there was indeed a pot of gold for the home fans. The ball bounced across the six yard box and Kyle Patton slid in between a pair of Ashington boots to score, picking up a couple of kicks in the face for his bravery. #bravery
Final score 2-2 and a big sigh of relief for the home fans.

Tuesday 26th September 2017 (Billingham Synthonia (H) - FA Vase 2QR

The replay arrived on a particularly foggy night in the NorthEast. Sunderland RCA v Morpeth would eventually fall foul of the weather and as the Boy Mark and I drove up Hillheads the mist seemed to be hanging around the top of the hill and the ground. First thoughts naturally were how long into the game would we get before it was called off and therefore was there a set time to play before the club had to refund your exorbitant £6 entry fee. Thankfully by kickoff the fog had cleared enough for us to see the far end of the pitch so the game got underway: despite Moira moaning about not being able to see Flynn in the Bay goal. I told her that would be an advantage because he would be able to pop up and surprise the Billingham forwards like a Ninja but she wasn't convinced. Thankfully it was the Bay who were making the running so most of the play was within range of our rapidly failing eyesight: whether that was through age or meteoric conditions. The breakthrough arrived in the 17th minute when the lively Robo was hacked down mercilessly. The fans behind the goal were busy organising a whip-round to look after his family when the brave trooper managed to heroically get to his feet. (Creative licence from the Kinster-Boy.) 

Up stepped the mercurial Potter who, after a tense few moments of hush, calmly slotted the ball down the middle: keeper Beblowski dived to his left. 1-0 the Bay. It was Thibault's turn to take aim next but his shot low to the keeper's left was palmed desperately away. Beblowski the hit a purple patch as he denied Thibault and Robo so there were still nerves aplenty at the break.

The second half had not long started when the Bay were 2-0 up. It was a gem from Jack 'there's only one' Walker, picking up the ball on the edge of the box before drilling it high into the net from the edge of the penalty area. We could start dreaming of a glorious trip to Humberside (or East Yorkshire as I was told by a resident to call it).

Bedlam ensued!

 Kempo was in the wars soon after when he was stood on by a Synner. We feared the worst when the red mist descended and he reacted by pushing the visitor away but thankfully, the ref saw sense he wasn't sent off or booked. 

The game carried on. However, as per usual, the conversation drifted. It was the Kinster (like Ginster but with less meat pie) who regalled us with his tales of an away friendly trip to Glossop which involved: a bike falling off a car, lots of alcohol, an altercation by a pool table followed by a 20-piece bucket of MacyD chicken nuggets that he missed out on. 

Lads! Lads! Lads! And Moira.

We managed to switch back to the game in time to see Kyle Patton completely miss an overhead kick that would have been a goal of the season if it had connected. However, the conversation then returned back to the Kinster who declared his dislike for both Nandos (an expensive KFC) and the Lad Bible website (poorly written banter for the overbantered section of the Nando-eating banter community). Never short of an opinion that one; although I am partial to a cheeky Nandos (Kinster probably dislikes the word cheeky too).

The game was over a contest soon after when birthday boy, Matty Cornish came off the bench to send a great cross from Kempo high into the net with an outstretched-right-footed-half-volley-could-have-been-a-volley-type-shot. Marvellous stuff and a happy birthday present for him!

Celebrations in the mist

Thibault almost scored a wonderful overhead kick but his effort sailed over the bar. There was great merriment at the final whistle: we had reached the first round proper!

The dream trip was on! 3-0 to the Bay was the final score. Soon after, though, the realisation dawned that Westalla and Willerby represented a drive of more than 45 minutes...even if the Boy Mark drove like the clappers. Watch this space!

23rd September 2017 Billingham Synthonia (a) FAV 2nd QR

The Satnav said 49 minutes but still we went for it...I placed my faith in The Boy Mark's driving and not in modern technology. If he said we could do it in 45 minutes then I believed him. The roundabout by Tynemouth Pool, the inevitable Silverlink roadworks and the lack of signage near the ground proved to be our undoing as we arrived in Norton, Synner's temporary home, 15 seconds after the 45 minutes deadline...were we turning into a parody of ourselves? Driving more than 45 minutes to get to an away game was our no-no! You, my dear readers must be the judges!


I love coming away to Northern League grounds as they are always full of odd stands and portacabins. Norton was no exception.

Great view of the goal from this stand....

....it's really a house for spare, rusting goals. Should have known!

Is this the potting shed? Might find Tom in here!

It was a repeat of the team on Tuesday, which was great news and I was buzzing about today's game. However at the start of the game there seemed a distinct lack of any sort of noise: especially the woeful PA system. The expanse of fields on nearly three sides probably contributed to this as all sounds quickly disappeared into the ether. There was even a lack of people watching the big Vase game from the houses that overlooked the ground one touchline. Bizarre! They did, kindly, leave their gates open so that fans could retrieve balls that had cleared the perimeter fences. How nice. Maybe the clubs returned the favour by putting out washing for them and mowing their lawns. I'd like to think so!

No-one was watching from their bedroom windows!

There was a worrying moment when a Bay fan had a Mexican stand-off with a Billingham one but that was quickly dispelled when they began sniffing each other. It was a touch inappropriate though.

Billingham v Whitley clash #1
First confrontation of the afternoon:
helping it all ended amicably.

Clash #2 occurred soon after when the ball bounced off a lady's head and her male friend commented that she should have "Just opened her mouth next time" to catch it. That didn't go down well and we had to leave before it turned nasty.

The players certainly weren't being stand-offish and the tackles were soon sliding in. Jasper performed two forward rolls and earned himself a 3.2 and 4.7 before Jack Walker tricked his way into the box, after a neat series of short passes, but couldn't come up with the final product. The ref seemed to be letting a lot go, especially from the home side (IMHO) despite a clear ability to signal goal kicks with a particularly forceful finger and knees-bent action. 

Finally there was joy amongst the mostly pro-Bay crowd as Scott 'The Wasp' Jasper struck!

The wing wizard, Potter once again beat his defender before his cross was met by Jasper's downward header. He certainly was buzzing after that goal! However, after that, Billingham took up the attack and it was Flynn's turn to be called into action, sliding in at the feet of a home attacker. Next it was Cap'n Call's turn to come up with a timely tackle. Tom Potter managed to come up with a storming shot that had to be tipped over and then Josh Nearney showed the sort of determination Die Hard's John MacClean would have been proud of to get into the home penalty area. His effort was saved.

Disappointment at half time for Mr Twitter as Hungerbusters is shut!
It got worse they had run out of chips at the cafe by the time he got to the front of the queue.
Had to make do with a chicken caesar salad.....

Get me an Ultra Cool Synners polo, please!
As seen in the clubhouse.

Cracking read.

Handy-sized rail for half time
'hard-lad' drinks!

The second half started with the home team getting irate with the ref and began to brand some of his decisions as the "worst decisions ever" which was a bit harsh i thought. However Billingham had had a flea in their ears at half time and were putting everything into each pass, tackle and appeal. The Bay lads were still on top and looked the most likely scorers. Of course this is football and just when looks like you are going to win, it comes along and pulls the pitch out from under your feet. Synners levelled with a lob that looked to have comfortably cleared Flynn's crossbar only to dip over the hapless Thomas and under the bar. There then followed a passage of play when the Bay lads allowed themselves to be hustled into mistakes and there looked like there would be only one winner. 

The normally unflappable Flynn came out to clear a ball, only to find it bounce up and onto his head before it was hacked clear then the otherwise-superb Nearney looped a ball back to the stranded Flynn who managed to hack it clear. He then gave both barrels to his hassled defender. Next it was Jack Walker's turn to put his goalkeeper in trouble: his pass intercepted. Luckily the Bay survived.

Despite all this, Nearney nearly earned the Bay the win when he, once again, wriggled into the box with more intricate passes but his touch was lacking and the Synners keeper managed to collect the ball as well as a piece of Josh's boot which earned the young defender a booking.

I had been praying that we didn't have extra time, so typically we had an extra thirty minutes. This was a shame since I had promised to get back in time for a family meal in the big, bad Toon. There was radio silence from Mrs Blogger when I texted her to let her know of my late return.

The Boy Mark and I decided to take the opportunity to watch the first half of extra time where we were and give Thomas Flynn our support. He was not happy and told us that he needed to try to wake up. Maybe his head juggling had given him sort of concussion. 

The Bay went straight for the jugular, Cornish having replaced Thibault. They pressed Synners back so much that for the first 12 minutes of extra time Flynn hardly touched the ball. The Gods of football once again turned away from us and it was the home team who went ahead: much to the delight of the group of local lads who had snuck into the ground at 90 minutes. The ball flashed across the visiting keeper and into the far corner. This was turning into a nightmare trip. 

On came Liam Brooks for Josh Nearney as the brave Whitley management went to three at the back. The bold move came up trumps. With the moaning home team complaining about a Brooks foul on the keeper, the Prof scored one of his classic cup-poacher goals; stabbing home with the keeper on the floor. We were well pleased with that. 

Both Kempster, with a spectacular overhead effort, and Jasper, with a miles over effort, could have earned the win but it was not to be and a 2-2 draw was the final result. 

Although a number of the Bay faithful had been disappointed with the draw we were still in the cup and the lads had survived another important and painful lesson in physical play. Sub Kyle P, especially, who claimed to have been studded as the final whistle blew.

The Boy Mark and I even managed to make it home with two minutes of the 45 left - thus avoiding grief from Mrs Blogger by being able to make the family trip to the Toon. 

Easy! Easy!

See you Tuesday!

Tuesday 19th September - Penrith (h)

Thanks Mr Twitter

Pile-on programme!

There certainly had been a dearth of home fixtures so this was my first chance to see the revitalised Bay team since the defeat against Benfield in the FA Cup. Thibault was back from his holiday to celebrate his dad's birthday and the Robertasaurus was back for his first start of the season. He joined Scott 'the Wasp' Jasper up front. Apologies for my rubbish attempts at finding nicknames but we always used to call Wasps 'Jaspers' and if he sets off on a run of scoring, stinging the opposition then I will be justified! The two could provide a bit of strength up front, feeding off the skill of Kempo, Potto, younger Patty et al. It was also great to see Professor Wilko with Callumity Anderson (cause he's injury-prone? I'll get me coat) back together again. Also joining the Bay was former player Jack Walker completing what was looking to be an awesome defence with Josh Nearney finishing off the back four.
The Bay bug seemed to have caught hold of Running Keith as he returned to Hillheads for his third or fourth game of the season. He brought with him his twin (they both wore glasses) to swell the growing ranks of fans behind the away goal...there were 15 of us!

Robo! 2-0!

Penrith arrived late because of traffic delays and I was in the middle of attaching the flag to the fence when Thibault stooped to head home. Kempo's pinpoint cross had followed great wizardry on the wing from Tommy P.
83 seconds...1-0.
Top banana!
I blinked.
 I missed it.
Seven minutes later...the Robovator was back! More brilliance from Kempo to cross for Robo to dive like a bird of prey to snaffle his first senior goal of the season.

Management look to be on the
same wavelength

 "Cricket score! Cricket score!" We cried but that was it for the goal count. Penrith had their first shot in the 19th minute and probably wished they had taken an earlier bus but the Bay dominated without making it count. Thibault's scuff/lob was easily caught but Thom O'Flynn, Cap'n Call and the lads had closed the back door: Penrith couldn't find a way through. In fact, apart from the Bay's ground staff's attempts at crop circles on the pitch, the conversation tended to revolve around the opposition #4's monkish hair style which featured a Zidane-esque bald spot. Thankfully, his play didn't resemble Zidane's.
The second half saw Penrith roar back but the lads coped well with it. Aidan Haley was looking accomplished in midfield and, although it was a great shame we haven't seen anything from Callum Patton so far this season, his presence wasn't missed. When a tired Saint Aidan was finally replaced by Matty Cornish Pasty (so sorry - just can't help myself) the Bay looked energised (according to wise sage and Bay fanatic Running Keith). A bit of skill from supersub Blondie Patton with a Cruyff turn almost presented a third goal but Flynn stole the final honours with a great save, diving low to his right to palm away a Penrith screamer.
2-0 the final score and the Bay had acquired another fan as Running Keith's mate asked where he could buy his shirt! #morefans

Engrossed!

2nd September 2017 - Newcastle Benfield (h) FAC 1st QR

Cold? In the Bay? No way! Today was a glorious September day. The Sun was out and the wind gentle. There were shirt sleeves galore, and shorts, on offer as we entered the ground. A healthy crowd gathered in anticipation; later numbered 608. The Bay was actually excited about the cup. The previous round's fightback against Penrith had been a cracker and the hope was that we were in for another belter. The only disappointment about the crowd was that it numbered the injured Professor Wilkinson, 'Robo' Robertson and Callum Anderson: all resplendent in their fine Bay tracksuits. Each claimed it would be a 'couple of weeks' before they were back. Today was going to be a tough one so the lads who were fit would have to be on their metal today. 

Whitley is excited for
the big FA Cup game!

 Although the Town didn't appear to share my enthusiasm, I was buzzing about the FA Cup tie. With £3 000 on offer to the club, if they won, there was certainly a great incentive to qualify. The club had already received prize money of over £3 400 from the previous two victories and victory today would mean a near doubling of that. Making it through to the next round would certainly allow building the extension to the Tommy Tea Emporium (it always be more than a hut to me) Cafe. The measly one table and lack of an Eiffel Tower in the background is probably all that is stopping the Bay public from fully embracing the cafe culture that Tommy probably has no intention of encouraging. That and the cold weather of course.

The Emirates FA Cup
Season 2017-18
Payments made from The FA's prize fund

Extra preliminary round winners	(185)	£1,500
Preliminary round winners	(160)	£1,925
First round qualifying winners	(116)	£3,000
Second Round Qualifying winners	(80)	£4,500
Third Round Qualifying winners	(40)	£7,500
Fourth Round Qualifying winners	(32)	£12,500
First Round Proper winners	(40)	£18,000
Second Round Proper winners	(20)	£27,000
Third Round Proper winners	(32)	£67,500
Fourth Round Proper winners	(16)	£90,000
Fifth Round Proper winners	(8)	£180,000
Quarter-Final winners	(4)	£360,000
Semi-Final winners	(2)	£900,000
Semi-Final losers	(2)	£450,000
Final runners-up	(1)	£900,000
Final winners	(1)	£1,800,000

Benfield and West Allotment fan Long-Haired Andrew was in attendance along with his son, who had obviously been sitting in compost as he had shot up in height since our last meeting. Who knew children grew? They joined us behind the Benfield goal and had a wonderful view of old timer Brayson's over-the-shoulder-hook-cum-volley-looping-lob that sailed over the helpless Flynn in the Whitley goal in the 3rd minute. If ever there was a bad omen, it was that. An incredible shot, it summed up how the afternoon was going to pan out for the Bay. The lads tried to impose their style of play onto the match but there were too many passes astray and any crosses were far too close to keeper Grainger and the confident keeper was in no mood to let anything go. Both sides huffed and puffed and it was Flynn who had to be on his metal to save the Bay against danger-man Brayson. In fact the highlight of the first half from a Whitley point of view was when the referee told Benfield's one man wall that he could either "protect his balls or face depending which he valued most". He needn't have worried as Whitley's freekick sailed high and wide.
It looked like a half time rollocking and second half fightback would be on the cards until the otherwise reliable Haley back flicked the ball high towards the disbelieving Flynn, who was in no-man's land. Benfield's Mccarthy got there before Flynn so, in first half injury time, the Bay were 2-0 down and in need of a miracle. Even the sun disappeared as Running Keith, who had joined us once again, regretted not bringing a duvet.

Dominant Grainger ....

Things improved slightly for the Bay in the second half but the best chance fell to substitute Jasper who latched onto a ball in the penalty area. However, his half volley drifted wide. This was not our day. No matter how hard the lads battled, they just couldn't find that killer pass and in the absence of Callum Patton and the still-on-holiday Thibault didn't look like clawing back one, never mind two goals.
The game finished with a whimper and my dreams of a double Wembley trip were over for another year.
Despite the obvious effort the lads put in, the creativity was lacking. This is still a very young side and they will learn from this experience, I'm sure Nash and Woody will make sure of it. It only goes to show how important the missing players are to the Bay. The sooner they come back, the better!
Benfield deserved their win and looked tight, compact with the evergreen Brayson up front. Good luck to them in the next round!

The Bay recovers from the shock of exiting the FA Cup!