el Queso Grande's Groundhopping Tour 2007-8

I have several choices: Ashington v Shildon, Northallerton v Billingham Synthonia, Crook Town v Marske United, Stokesley SC v Brandon United and Sunderland RCA v North Shields. In my Hit List, I had selected Birtley Town v Thornaby, but, that fixture has been reversed as Thornaby are trying to get all of their home fixtures brought forward to allow for some improvements to their ground later in the season. Sunderland RCA might just be where I end up, North Shields are showing some improvement, as are RCA since Neil Hixon took over as Manager.

Late course wire: Due to a family function, I have to choose a game near to my home and as Albany Park is only a few minutes away, I am going to Washington v Jarrow Roofing in the ANL Division 1.

Arngrove Northern League Division 1: Washington 1-0 Jarrow Roofing Boldon CA

Nothing to get excited about, unfortunately. Washington played a rather uncomfortable-looking 3-5-2 formation with no recognised central defenders in the back 3. Roofers fielded new signing Craig Tait, formerly of Newcastle Benfield Bay Plastics and Tow Law Town. There was no real action until the last 20 minutes or so, Washington's winner coming from Liam McBryde who headed in a free kick from deep on the right. Roofers did try to play some good football but flattered to deceive.

I did have a couple of nice pints of Cameron's Smooth at £1.50 a pint before the game (I wasn't driving!), while talking to some Roofers supporters including the wife of their manager, Richy McLoughlin. I then fuelled up with a small but tasty mince pie for £1. I probably didn't win the half time raffle (as usual) but I didn't actually check for the winning number. Having spent most of the first half talking to fellow NLZ-er Washington Lad, I then spent all of the second half talking to me old mate, John P, and his Dad. No wonder I get accused of being the Most Talkative Person on Facebook! Never mind, it's all part of my enjoyment of the Northern League. 

FA Vase 2nd. Round Proper: Spennymoor Town 0-0 Dunston Federation (after Extra time) replay at Dunston Tuesday 20th. November 2007

It's FA Vase day! The Brewery Field, Spennymoor, beckons me for my first ever visit and another hit on my list. Neither side has been breaking any records in the league and have very similar records thus far, being in 10th and 9th positions, respectively. I have a fancy this will be an entertaining spectacle, especially for a neutral like me.

Spennymoor Town has only been in existence for a couple of seasons. The club evolved from the amalgamation of Spennymoor United and Evenwood Town and elected to use United's ground, The Brewery Field, as their home. The majority of supporters have United in their blood, as can be seen from two of the signs above the entrances, which have not been re-named as yet.

The Players and Officials Entrance

Wrought-iron sign above the South West exit.

The turnstile is just to the right of this sign.

Since the Suppoerters Club House was destroyed by fire, the only alcoholic refreshments available are cans of beer and lager served in the hospitality area in the main stand. I had a can of John Smith's Smooth for £1.50.

At half time I joined the queue and eventually was served with a rather tasty cheeseburger (no pies), only to find that I then had to join another queue to get a hot drink! As the second half was fast approaching, I forewent the Bovril!

The game itself disappointed both sets of supporters, however, I enjoyed it from a tactical point of view. Two well-organised defences were able to deal with most of the attacking moves. Of the few shots made, both keepers were more than able to deal with them, apart from one from Lee Ludlow which hit the bottom of the goal post just before the end of the first half of extra time. Both sides seemed to have suffered from restricted squad availability, Spennymoor Manager Jason Ainsley proved he can still cut it with the best, playing out most of normal time, as did Dunston's much-travelled striker, Steve Preen, but I was particularly impressed with the contribution made by Fed's No.5 James Taylor.
A feisty game without too much "nastiness". However, I could have used that missed cup of Bovril; I was freezing by the end of extra time and had to drive home with the car heater on full blast! No raffle for me not to win, however, I did partake in the "Golden Goal", which I didn't win, either.

The Joyce Hindmarch Stand viewed from the main stand.

The main stand viewed from the Joyce Hindmarch Stand.

Main stand viewed from the Durham Road end.

View from the Durham Road end towards the Joyce Hindmarch Stand.

 

Arngrove Northern League Division 1: Bedlington Terriers 0-2 Washington

Off into the wilds of Northumberland for my regular visit to Welfare Park, Bedlington. I just love going up there; the pies are always excellent! I have also made quite a few friends among the Terriers supporters, who always make me welcome. The clubhouse has been destroyed by fire and rebuilt since I was last there, so there will be something new for me to see.

Not the best of games to watch, football-wise. Martin Houlahan scored the first for Washington on 34 minutes, when he beat Terriers keeper Karl Dryden to a suicidal back pass from Derek Atwell and touched it in from about a foot out. Washington were awarded a penalty in the 74th minute, which Craig Marron put away well. Not sure what the penalty was for, but there seemed to be little disagreement from the Terriers' players. Terriers did begin to play some good stuff after the 2nd goal, with Lee Hamilton, Alex Benjamin and Alex Lawson linking-up well. Two or three minutes from time, there was some 'handbags' between Alex Benjamin and Ross Preston; Alex Lawson involved himself and got sent off for his trouble, allegedly for spitting.
Excellent pies, though! Didn't win the raffle.

Arngrove Northern League Division 2: Whickham 3-1 Birtley Town

 

Whickham Football Club play at The Glebe Sports Ground, Rectory Lane, Whickham, Tyne and Wear. Founded in 1944 under the name of Axwell Park Colliery Welfare, Whickham reached the semi-final of the FA Vase in 1979 and two years later, reached the final, successfully lifting the trophy by beating Willenhall Town 3-2.

Whickham won the Durham County Challenge Cup in 2006, beating Billingham Synthonia 2-1 in the final at Durham City's Archibald's Stadium. Since being promoted to the Northern League in 1988, Whickham are in their 15th. season in Division 2, only having enjoyed 5 seasons in Division 1, entailing 2 promotions and subsequent relegations. Their best seasons in the League saw them finish 15th. in Division 1 in seasons 1989-90 and 1990-91.

I arrived at the Glebe about an hour before kick-off and spent an enjoyable 45 minutes in the clubhouse with a good pint of John Smith's for £1.90, while reading the match programme which was relatively good value for the 80p I paid for it. Then out into the pitch area where I had quite a tasty mince 'n' onion pie for £1.00 from the Corner Flag Cafe. The pitch at the Glebe has an amazing slope! I have tried to capture the gradient in some of the photographs. At half time I was able to meet up with Les Dixon, a contact from nonleaguezone.com, who is the Whickham Commercial Manager and a former Northern League player. Crikey! Les can talk as good or even better than I can!

I am using Les' report on the match here.

Whickham manager Tony Ainley got a huge boost when Scotty Robson, Elly,Phil and Tinders all declared themselves fit. Four Big players for us so a bit of shuffling saw Kingy go to Right Wing Back,Phil into centre half,scott and Elly into centre midfield and Tinders upfront with Tony Thirkell making his league Debut. 

I thought we completely bossed the first half and created a few good chances we couldn't take until Kingy bundled us into the lead late on. Robbo didn't have a lot to do with our midfield running the show and our defence looking very comfortable.
But the second half was a different story with Birtley showing just why their top of this league and they came alive after an excellent turn and shoot for an equaliser by John Sherlock. With Birtley pushing for a second Whickham showed their resolve by scoring from a long throw that was flicked in from a defender under pressure from Tinders. 2-1 Against the run of play but pretty fair over the hour or so played.
Back charged Birtley who pressed and could of done better from a couple of set pieces that were headed tamely wide.
Then the key point of the whole game with Birtley awarded a Penalty from what I thought was Craig Cowell handling a ball that bounced awkwardly at him.
Robbo saved a penalty drilled straight at him, and then pulled off an amazing block from the incoming striker's shot. As the ball fell loose again and I only have our players' and Robbo's version of this he was kicked in the face by a Birtley player, Phil Greenwood took exception to this and appeared to throw a punch at the Birtley player in the melee. To be fair both teams could and probably should have been down to 10 men with both walking, but the ref chose to book both of them for what exactly I don't know but on we went.
Birtley's last throw was from a free kick on the ede of the box which they blasted over. Whickham punished them further in the last minute when sub Dave Fairless was given half a field to himself to calmly slot under Andy Mallinson. 3-1 it finished.
Overall we're delighted to get three points with a 2-2 probably a fairer reflection over 90 minutes, but we felt we had no luck whatsoever in the DCC tie a few weeks ago against Birtley so we'll take the bit we got and move on.

I never shy from giving my opinion and I honestly wish Birtley Town every successs because the job they've done is fantastic and I don't think anyone would say they watched the two best footballing sides in the division today, but they saw two honest sides going hammer and tongs while trying to play football which resulted in a decent game, feisty at times but its a man's game and two clubs running on tiny budgets finding genuine kids wanting to play for them before money is even mentioned.

I'd love to see some of these so called well known managers run on either clubs budgets, they won't because they couldn't do it!