August 2014 (Part 2)

It might as well rain until September...

The second half of August turned out to be as miserable as the first, with poor results on the field - and I don't just mean watching Easington! Ironically, though, the most despondent I felt about any scoreline was one of the few successes - City's 2-1 win over Lokeren. And that's because Jordan Remacle's strike for the visitors just after half-time proved enough to send them through.

Saturday, 23rd August

CML North Division

Easington United 0 Clay Cross Town 2

The start of the Bank Holiday weekend and the start of a busy few days of live action. Clay Cross arrived after an indifferent start and with members of their management saying they were in for a bottom half finish this term. Such comments would appear to be slightly off-mark given their recent run!

As for us, this was a battling display and one we all felt deserved more than another home defeat. My official view on it can be read here.

The brief Clay Cross match report is here.

All pictures (which are also available on our Facebook page) are courtesy of Burt Graham, as are all the Eastenders action shots this month.

Monday, 25th August

CML North Division

Easington United 0 Appleby Frodingham 4

If Saturday's performance had offered encouragement, this was like a kick in the knads! This was easiest the poorest display I'd seen so far this season. And the weather was kack. And I got a bollocking in the pub for lack of players going back. Happy bloody Bank Holiday. Not. Read about it here. View the pics here.

Tuesday, 26th August

Pre-Season Friendly

Easington United Reserves 3 AFC Preston 2

Ah, an oasis of optimism amid a sea of despondency! Not that I got to savour it - the Stiffs being already three goals to the good by the time I got there. Gav's header (pictured) and a couple of excellent strikes from t'other 'Kettle, Mark, put the Reserves in command against their First Division opponents. The ex-Amateur League side fought back well after the break - aided by a constant shake-up of resources by Clarkey - and Daniel Collier was one of two scorers for the visitors...looking a stone or two bigger than he did before he left us for the ERCFA Defaulters List :-) 

You can see if you think I'm right by viewing the pictures here.

Wednesday, 27th August

Pre-Season Friendly

Sporting Withernsea Wolves U18s 2 Olympic SSC 1

The long-term future of our club could well be dependent on the progress of our official Club-Link partners Sporting Withernsea Wolves. Therefore the launch of an Under-18's side to complement their U16 and U14 teams should - hopefully - be to our benefit. And on this evidence, there are some handy young players about. Goals by Jordan Medcalf (pictured) and Korben Harman clinched a first day win over their open-age opponents. 

Thursday, 28th August

UEFA Europa League Play-Off Round, Second Leg

Hull City 2 KSC Lokeren 1

(Agg: 2-2; Lokeren win on away goals)

Two tweets I posted in the immediate aftermath of this gut-wrenching result probably sum up my feelings best. The first read: "Home. Bitterly disappointed and angry that it's een as some sort of blessing. It's not. It's a missed opportunity. #TypicalCity #hcafc". It received 413 views, 8 retweets and 6 favourites. I think I'd made a good point!

I added a second tweet before going to bed: "On purely selfish grounds I'm also gutted that I won't now get the chance to sing #CaravanofLove on a Europe-bound ferry full of #hcafc fans!" 

And in the morning I posted this on Facebook:

"Well, it doesn't feel any better this morning but I refuse to blame Bruce for last night. True I'd like to have seen a "stronger" starting XI but even with the team he fielded City should have done better. But we simply weren't good enough. I don't think I'll ever see Aluko have as poor a 90 mins as he did last night; he wasn't the only one. But what really winds me up is people saying we should concentrate on the Premier League. Sums up all that's what wrong with English football - the money of the PL. I grew up watching Sportsnight showing the likes of Leeds & Liverpool involved in big European games. The atmosphere & excitement was tremendous.We could have had a proper taste of that - certainly the aperitif we did experience was promising. Still, if people would rather visit Stoke, Leicester and Burnley than go to the likes of Milan, Brugge, Eindhoven, Monchengladbach etc then they've got their wish - I know which I'd have preferred having the chance to do."

I think I made my point. City going out of Europe had really p____d me off!

An official account of the night's events can be read here if you can bear to do so. I can't. Still.

Friday, 29th August

Super League

Hull FC 28 Hull KR 0

I must have really upset the "big man up top" given this latest setback. As if City's European exit and our current travails at First Team level weren't already seriously testing my faith in sport, Rovers then decided to put on perhaps the most gutless derby performance I have ever witnessed. From the highlight of a nice pint of Leeds Bewery Pale in Pearsons things went downhill quickly. Persistent drizzle ensured we were soaked by the time we'd walked from Prinny Ave to the dry environs of the Upper West at the KC. The walk back, after watching THAT, was even worse. Still, we and most of the Rovers contingent stayed to the end; yes, a small percentage emulated the "Wigan Walk" but compared to the black and white exoduses I've seen at previous derby games, the Rovers fans' loyalty was to be applauded. The only consolation was that a good side would have put 60-70pts on us!

So, no Play-offs for either Hull side this season. About sums things up nicely. Dullers can read about it again here.  Picture courtesy of the Hull Daily Mail.

Saturday, 30th August

CML North Division

Welbeck Welfare 2 Easington United 1

Buying a new car in Evans Halshaw meant I avoided seeing the most predictable result of the season - a second successive loss at perennial basement club Welbeck. I think I'd known all along that the day would end in disappointment - whether I made the effort to go or not. And, following the City and Rovers results, well, don't they say things come in three's? Even the prospect of finally getting to see the completed new development at Elkesley Road (pictured) wasn't enough to sway me.

As it was, I caught the result via Facebook in the car showroom, just prior to heading off for a lovely tea at the Home Farm. It was the climax of a "family day" I'd promised Mrs Slush at the end of a sporting week/month.

I think I made the right choice.

A report of sorts can be read here.

So, August 2014 - a month to forget. Roll on September...I think!

A belated Halloween Horror Story

Saturday 2nd November
ER County League Premier Division
Easington Utd Reserves 0 Walkington 4

The Slush Family attended a little soiree last Saturday night, organised as part of the current trend for celebrating ‘All Hallows Eve’. 
Perhaps not surprisingly, I'd only "entered into the spirit (apt!) of things" under protest.  To Mrs Slush & the Slushettes my dislike of Halloween simply reinforced my status at home as “Chief Misery Guts”.  
It's that time of year when I really come into my own in this regard.  There's Hull Fair (“a waste of money; full of chavs”), the half-term School Disco (“you can go with your mum can’t you?  Anyway, football’s on telly...”) and of course there's Trick or Treat (“it’s glorified begging...and don’t expect me to answer the door here neither!”).  Refusing to partake of any of these all adds to the “Grumpy” image I positively revel in.  As Mrs Slush is keen to point out - the spirit of Scrooge lives on all year round in our house.
Thankfully, I found myself not alone in my discomfort and found a particularly willing fellow anti-Halloween dissenter in my sometime drinking partner Fuller.
Aside from an age-old rivalry on the local football front, Fuller and I tend to agree on many things, including a love of real ale and as we sat there, resplendent in our horror-themed fancy dress (I know, I know...), supping pints of “Sleck Dust” from award-winning local Great NewsomeBrewery, we came to the conclusion that only one source was to blame.

“More bloody Americanisation”, we agreed.

Similar to the way the indigenous red squirrel has been all but done for by its American grey cousin, another British institution is under threat as the craze to do all manner of things with pumpkins now threatens to completely eclipse Bonfire Night.  
At this rate we'll be relegating Christmas in favour of Thanksgiving next...   

This year's Halloween number

Perhaps my dislike of Halloween is because I used up my taste for all things ghoulish during the countless nights I spent at Hull’s legendary Spiders nightclub during the Eighties.  A late-night haven mainly for Goths, post-punks and sub-cults of all forms (and with a soundtrack to die for) it was a dark, brooding but, all the same, very enjoyable place.  And you can forget Halloween fancy dress – in Spiders there really WERE some sights to send shivers down your spine! 

My “Spiders Years” coincided with a penchant for 1950's schlock horror flicks (“Attack of the 50ft Woman” or “I Was A Teenage Werewolf” anyone?) and a love of bands like The Meteors and The Cramps that first brought vampires, werewolves, human flies and even goo-goo muck cascading into my life. So as you see, I’m almost Halloween’d out!

My costume was better than that!

At any rate the real horrors for me this Halloween occurred on the football field and not on 31st October.  And I’m not talking about Kyle Walker’s “challenge” on Stephen Quinn during Hull City’s heartbreaking penalty defeat in their League Cup tie at Spurs.  Nor am I referring to the "joke" penalty that had decided the league game between the two teams the previous Sunday; nor the “Gareth Barry Show” in the 2-1 defeat at Everton a week earlier.  All of which reminded me just why I got so exasperated by the Premier League last time the Tigers were in it. 

No, outdoing even these moments in terms of sending shock-waves through my system was the phone conversation with First Team boss Sumo at ten to four last Saturday afternoon, during which he informed me of a one nil defeat at the hands of bottom club Welbeck Welfare.  A real seasonal low point if ever there was one.

A sort of Theatre Of Dreams

Thankfully, the lack of minibus and the aforementioned commitment to a Halloween/Fireworks party had prevented me making the trip to Meden Vale's own Horror Show.

Not that my afternoon at Low Farm had proved much more uplifting.  
Although there was plenty of heart on show in the Reserves’ display against a Walkington side that again included Hull City Wembley hero Dean Windass, a resounding 4-0 defeat ensured the Stiffs would spend the week at the foot of the Premier Division. 

Meanwhile, across the ditch, the Casuals were given a doing by holders Barmby Moor in the second round of the East Riding Qualifying Cup.  Manager DC wore a look of complete despondency in The Granby afterwards.

Horror tackle? No but Willo's in the pink!

The tracksuit had come out of retirement that afternoon as I took on the role of assistant to temporary manager John Clarke for the aforementioned Stiffs v Walkington match.  This was due to injury and a pre-arranged date with The Pigeon Detectives in Leeds ensuring caretaker-boss Foz’s absence.  For once the afternoon began with a little bit of optimism as we actually lined up with subs – two of them.  However, by half-time this option had been halved thanks to injury across the ditch to a Casuals side reduced to eleven men by yet another no-show this season.  The lack of commitment among today’s youth is really, really depressing but I’ll perhaps rant about that another time...

Twister!

With hindsight, the decision to let Steve Jam hop across the ditch to replace the injured Pat was a mistake.  The Casuals were already five down by the break and their cup hopes were going the same way as countless Guy Fawkes effigies.  And we could have done with another option off the bench.

Having fallen a goal behind after just two minutes – Lewis Palin (son of Walkington boss and former Tigers favourite Leigh) being allowed the freedom of the Farm to slot past Pagey – we’d hit back well up to the break.

With veteran duo Stivvy and Stu asserting some control at the back, Wicksy orchestrating things from midfield and makeshift front pair Shane and Willo working their socks off, we managed to put Walkington on the back foot.  Unfortunately the one chance that mattered wouldn’t come. 

I was a teenage Windass

For his part Mr Windass mixed patches of quality - ghosting in and out of positions – with a less desirable approach to officialdom.  Not only did the referee feel the wrath of the maestro’s tongue several times without doing anything about it, rather more shamefully so did Jam’s dad, acting in the purely voluntary capacity of linesman.  What made it worse was that the decision that had aroused Deano’s ire had been a perfectly correct one.  Once more, though, the referee failed to take action in protection of his “assistant”.

Thankfully, as the heavens opened and the wind picked up considerably, the second half saw Deano let his feet do the talking and he doubled Walkington’s lead just 10 mins in.  It must be added that the deteriorating weather conditions played a part – his right foot clipped finish seemingly heading for Kilnsea before veering round and over Pagey.

The wet surface then played a part as sub Bogdan’s finish zipped off it and under Page for 3-0.

Stumo’s misplaced pass then gifted the same player a second to complete the scoring.

Heads we lose

Not that we went down without a fight.  Shane rattled the bar with one stonker from 30 yards and nobody threw the towel in.  Unfortunately, with Brett replacing the knackered Pash early on and then both Stu and Luke succumbing to various ailments, we looked a pretty dispirited bunch by the end.

It was glorious sunshine as I helped carry out the usual post-match duties, although it tended to be overshadowed by the dark cloud formed in the form of that news from Welbeck.  Even a very nice pint of Great Newsome’s 'Autumn Bounty' in The Granby couldn’t quite erase the taste. 

Still, I had a Halloween Party to go to to take my mind off things - and some films to watch when I got home...   

Happy New Year!

Saturday 7th January
Baris CML Challenge Cup R2
Easington United 6 DFS Welbeck Welfare 0

Less than a fortnight into 2012 and it would appear I've already fallen down on one of my New Year resolutions, namely that of ensuring I keep on top of this blogging malarkey.  Anyway, better late than never...    

Christmas was a fairly low-key event in the Slush household this time around; Mrs Slush’s latest bout of tonsillitis helping put something of a downer on any wild partying she (and I for that matter) might have had in mind.

Not that it wasn’t enjoyable, thanks to fact that both the Elder & Younger Slushette are still of an age to completely buy into the idea of Father Christmas.

Hutton Cranswick’s resignation from the league meant we were one of few teams not in action on the Holiday Tuesday.  According to CML Chairman Frank Harwood, it proved a cracking day for the league with “crowds of over a hundred reported at five games and attendances in general up on the norm”.

Lack of a game meant Mack and Nicho were quick to push for decent attendance at the three training sessions between the back-to-back games against Welbeck.  They weren’t disappointed and as 2012 arrived it did so with a genuine belief on our part that things may just be on the up again.

The Comeback Kid (with three new followers)

Mrs Slush’s inability to do much socialising over the time off had allowed me to catch up on my reading and I ended 2011 with an absolute belter in Dominick Sandbrook’s “State Of Emergency(Britain: The Way We Were 1970-74)”.

Being born in 1966, the period covered by the third instalment of Sandbrook’s historical series evoked many memories of my boyhood years living up Turmarr Villas, the small cul-de-sac of council houses adjoining the original Easington School.  And while too young to appreciate Prime Minister Heath’s dealings with the TUC, IRA and EEC, I could fully relate to the author’s accounts of what was on the BBC and ITV.

As such his chapter detailing the children's telly of the time brought back to some great memories, as did the pieces on the "classic" sitcoms of the era - The Good Life, Rising Damp, Are You Being Served, Love Thy Neighbour and Til Death Us Do Part.  Oh 'eck.

For me, ‘State Of Emergency’ provides some excellent background to events that would come to dominate later life.  Indeed, some of the parallels with recent events are quite staggering – public sector pay disputes, racial tensions and arguments over Europe.  Never mind 1981 (from which several Official Papers have just been released), a lot of what’s happening now is very reminiscent of Britain in the early 1970s.

A new Starter (sorry!)

Back in January 1972 as they prepared to entertain the likes of Humbleton and Thorngumbald, if someone had told people involved with Easington United that some forty years later they'd be hosting teams from north Nottinghamshire, they'd have been accused of sampling some of the recreational “aids” that, although associated with the “Swinging Sixties”, according to Sandbrook really came into their own during the early Seventies!

But here we are and, thanks to the work of the management over the Festive Break, here is hopefully where we’ll be staying.  This despite the rumours circulating on the unofficial CML message board that suggested we have resigned from the competition.  We haven’t and we have no immediate plans to do so.

An apt cover as it turned out!

A Christmas/New Year accompanied by weather in marked contrast to that of twelve months earlier ensured there was never any doubt that our return to action would go ahead as planned.  And so, at five to two on 7th January 2012, the latest incarnation of the Eastenders First Team emerged from the home changing rooms ready to do battle for a place in the last sixteen of the league cup.

Due to Bezza’s work commitments, Ben “Killer” Killingsworth became the second of the new recruits to make his full debut; deputising at left-back (or “left-half” as regular supporter Ted Roberts later termed the role!).  Elsewhere, Messrs. Roberts, Shortland and Start were handed slots on the bench.

The result was never really in doubt from the minute the skipper headed home on 12mins.  A superb second followed just past the half-hour only for AG to then blot his copybook when striking a second half penalty that is still rising.  No hat-trick for Graham then.

Aside from striking the woodwork at 2-0, Welbeck rarely threatened a comeback and when Nicho slotted home a second penalty our progress was assured.  A Frost goal and debut strikes for Start and Shortland capped a fine afternoon.
Dare I say the future is bright again?

Thanks to Burt Graham for the photographs

And as this song has irritated me for the past few weeks I might as well inflict it on you all too...

 

The first shoots of recovery?

Saturday 17th December

CML North Division

DFS Welbeck Welfare 0 Easington United 3

As it says on the official match report, not exactly a result to set CML opponents quaking in their boots about an Eastenders revival but by 'eck did we need it.  

The Kiveton defeat hit everybody hard.  Without taking anything away from our visitors, we should not be shipping six unanswered goals at home to teams like Kiveton.  Things needed to change - and quickly.

My mood was lightened with the help of some Timothy Taylor Landlord ale which accompanied tea for some fifteen of us at The Crown & Anchor the following day.  Even the blackest of moments cannot fail to be brightened - even ever so slightly - by a pint or two of this perennially fine Yorkshire ale.

Alcohol would continue to play a healing role; further recuperation being aided over the next couple of days by the bottle of Gordon's Sloe Gin I'd bought to help introduce some Festive spirit into the Slush household.  

Meanwhile, Wednesday 13th December brought a double-dose of Slushette Nativity plays in the afternoon; the Younger depicting an angel in her offering about a star that was struggling to shine, while my eldest threw herself into her role of singing sheep in the older ones' ditty, 'Bethlehem Bandits'.  Suffice to say, both girls stole their particular shows...ahem.

Just the TWO sugars Dave?

The evening brought a different type of production, courtesy of Bad Apple Theatre Company's tale, A Yorkshire Christmas Carol, being staged in Easington Community Hall as part of a tour of village halls across the North and East Ridings. 

At the same time as I was enjoying an updated regional version of Dickens' famous tale, the club's weekly training session at Hull's Soccer Sensations centre was being attended by four members of the now defunct Hutton Cranswick club and a fifth new face, previously with fellow CML club Westella & Willerby.

The quintet's attendance was thanks largely to a week or so of intense ringing around conducted by asst-mgr Nicho on the back of tip-offs from other local managers and players.  So impressed was our No.2 and Mack by what they saw that come the end of the session we had four new names registered with the club and an official notice of approach going in for the other.  Things were finally beginning to look up...

The Pistol does a fine impersonation of a twat  in a hat!

For the foreseeable future, hosts DFS Welbeck Welfare are using the excellently named “Clod”, home to the now-defunct Forest Town FC. And what a wonderful ground it is.

Although immediately apparent where the pitch gets its name from – for most of the game I thought they were playing with a pudding instead of a ball – the cycle track around the pitch and the steeply banked terracing/seating on the Welfare Club side almost lent itself to the feeling we were in a UEFA Cup tie behind the former Iron Curtain. Indeed, central defender Biggy Smalls later said he’d expected us up on the bank to be letting flares off. Unfortunately, the effect of doing so may well have been lost – aside from The Pistol and I the “crowd” consisted of two Lancastrian ground hoppers and half-a-dozen semi-interested punters watching from the Academy decking.

Pistol packing 'em in

Although I was frustrated by Welbeck’s no-shows last season, I’ve got to admit to having real respect for the way they continue to plough on regardless. Despite sitting some 11 points adrift at the foot of the table without a win or point all season, facing a constant turnaround of players, having seen their previous manager depart for pastures new on the eve of a game and currently being forced to lodge elsewhere while the impressive new ground development at Meden Vale takes shape, those in charge continue to grin and bear it.

Before the game, manager Chris Bennett and assistant Iain Peet (who’s also the treasurer) highlighted some of the problems the club has experienced and continues to experience. What drives both men – and their fellow committee members – on is the superb youth set-up that should eventually see Welbeck Welfare FC restored to its former status as “a very strong Club serving the community of Warsop and the surrounding villages of North Nottinghamshire”.

The big kick-off

An FA Charter Standard Community Club (an award it received back in 2009) Welbeck are not the only club in the area to fall on hard times - neighbours Church Warsop having recently “gone to the wall” just two seasons after winning the CML Premier Division title.

I enjoyed the hospitality immensely and just hoped it would extend to the pitch. It did. We were ahead on 10mins courtesy of a sweet left foot strike from Gav. By the break we’d doubled our lead, new boy Shawn marking his debut in style.

As I gradually began to lose all feeling in my feet second half, a third goal to effectively wrap things up helped offset the numbness; Frosty’s surging run and cross being drilled into his own net by hapless centre-half Malcolm Redford.

Despite a spirited showing by the hosts, they rarely looked like registering at the other end and 3-0 was a very welcome scoreline in view of recent events. 

'Mini Mack' prepares to step into dad's shoes

The spacious Forest Town Academy offered a comfortable place to retire to (shame about lack of any cask ale – I opted for a pint Chestnut Mild given I would be driving later that evening) and news of a battling performance by the nine-man Stiffs against leaders South Cave, along with another fine win for the Barmby Army helped put a very satisfactory smile on my face. It had been a long time coming…

 

Wrong turn, white outcome...

Saturday 20th August
CML North

Easington United 3 DFS Welbeck Welfare 0

It was one of the most relaxing Saturday's I'd known.  The programme had been printed the night before, Mrs Slush had taken the Elder Slushette off to town for the day and the Younger daughter was a master of the ability to amuse herself without much input from Dad.

Thus, as Aggers and co described England's inexorable march at The Oval and the power of Twitter kept me abreast of events on a potentially season-defining day in the County Championship, I took in the warm August sunshine while reading David Starkey's passionate defence of his comments on what has become one of the most talked-about editions of Newsnight in recent times.  
It was the calm before the, well, navigational storm if you like!

"They've ended up where?..."

Picture the scene if you can.  It's 2.20pm that same Saturday afternoon, forty minutes before kick-off of our home game against Nottinghamshire side DFS Welbeck Welfare in the Central Midlands League North (note the last word!).  I'm sat in our grandiosely titled Hospitality Area, chewing the fat with opposition secretary Graham Hall, when in comes visiting Coach (and manager-for-the-day) Chris Bennett, immediately followed by the three match officials, all looking somewhat perplexed.

"Slight problem gents" says the aforementioned Bennett. "(delete expletive) for brains Tom Chambers and (delete expletive) for brains (followed by two other names that escape me) have just rung to say they're near Sunderland.  They're heading to the wrong Easington and won't be here until half past five..."

Then came the best bit: "...and they've got the kit!"

You couldn't make it up.  And I haven't.

And so began a hectic half-hour of panic phone calls, rejigging colours and amending team sheets before football could begin - ten minutes late - but with another satisfactory outcome for the Farm Faithful.

If in doubt...point!

In the event our lads loved the mix-up as it allowed a first wearing of the new away strip, sponsored by the local Patrington Garage.  It's white, well at least the shirts are, which as you can imagine has really pleased our laundry lady!

Gav proves he's all-white with his right an'all

Anyway, despite a stubborn effort from our visitors, the new kit was christened in winning style, courtesy of two Gav Thurkettle goals and a first for Jamie Hartley.  Further details of the game can be found here. 
You could say, it turned out all-white in the end...

Photos courtesy of Burt Graham

Lightning strikes twice

Saturday 7th May - Welbeck Welfare (home) Match postponed...again

Another wasted effort

The phone rang at 10.20 on Saturday morning.  I answered it to be informed that for the second time in three weeks, our scheduled opponents Welbeck Welfare FC would not be making the trip up from Nottinghamshire.  Words fail me.

Out with the Pistol in with the Piston

Saturday 4th September - Welbeck Welfare (away) 
Won 4-3

The Piston's at the wheel!

"Llandudno, what the bloody hell are you doing in Llandudno?"

"Line Dancing"
"Eh? Bloody line dancing?"
"Yeah, line dancing"
"Well, what about Welbeck Welfare?"
"Don't worry, I've sorted it." 
Eh, and true to his word, he had.  So, while "Pistol Pete & The Riding School Express" were otherwise engaged dancing to shit-kicking music amid the Victorian & Edwardian splendour of Wales's largest resort, newly recruited driver "Piston Pete" took the wheel of a replacement White Van for the trip to north Notts.

 Home from Home

There was a time not many weeks ago when this fixture was in grave danger of disappearing from the schedule.  Following a turbulent end to 2009/10, during which Welbeck Welfare had conceded their last three games due to a shortage of players, a similarly chaotic summer had seen the club tender its resignation shortly after the Central Midlands League AGM.
However, a last-minute rescue plan, which saw former Grantham Rangers boss Geoff Green appointed manager, the recruitment of a brand new squad and a groundshare arrangment with neighbours Church Warsop helped ensure that Welbeck took their place in the Premier Division for 2010/11...albeit a couple of weeks late.

"You lookin' at me?"

And so, with 'The Piston' at the wheel of the newly acquired Renault 14-seater, courtesy of the very accommodating Charlie "Would you like to see some puppies girls?" Johnson (don't ask!) of Welwick, we headed off in search of a second successive away win.
Now it doesn't take a genius to work out that a driver, navigator (erm, that's me then), manager & asst-manager plus full squad does not go into a 14-seater.  Thankfully it didn't have to.  With JC now ensconced back at Sheffield Uni and The Stumo, Chav and Man Mountain electing to travel by car due to a requirement to be back in Holderness early doors, there were enough seats to go round.
With the memories of Monday's setback still fresh in the memory (and made even more frustrating by talk that Cranny would be losing the points due to an indiscretion on the team sheet) Mack and new right-hand man Mr. T were determined to rectify things quickly.

"Don't recognise you, don't recognise you, don't recognise you..." 

Their task hadn't been made easier by a glut of absentees.  AG & Frosty were rendered absent by suspensions carried over from the previous season, Sam Mac was still injured, while Hutchie, Jim, Luke J and The Tank were all on holiday.  With Chaz nursing a  knuckle injury also, you could say that we hadn't been dealt the strongest hand.
Still, spirits were high as we arrived in good time at 'The Alley', scene of perhaps our finest away performance the previous season (despite, it should be pointed out, the AA Route Planner sending us hopelessly off course thanks to a miscalculation on the roundabouts?!).
While the players checked out the pitch and I laid the kit out, the first of the home contingent arrived; most prominent among whom was goalkeeper Chris Bennett.  I smiled on hearing him ask a team-mate, "How are these lot doing?" to be answered, "Geoff says they're favourites for the title".  Yeah, right!

Explain that one then Paul...

On venturing out I came across the extremely affable Graham Hall, whose official titles appear to include Chairman, Secretary & Programme Editor.  In short, 'Mr Welbeck'.  He described the various recent turns of events, which appear to have seen a veritable merry-go-round of players and management within the tight football community of north Notts; far too confusing to recount here. 
With the Tea Hut fired up, followed closely by our lads, it was kick-off time and I'd already enjoyed my day (particularly the moment when 'The Piston' returned from a fruitless trip to what he thought was a burger bar but instead turned out to be a place selling garden furniture - I offered him one of my Family Bag of Quavers by way of consolation!).
My only disappointment thus far was the lack of programme ("the printer's broken - I'll get one sent up to you later if you like?").  Very kind of you (PS: I'm still waiting).

 Love on the terraces

I was sincerely hoping that this setback wasn't to be mirrored on the pitch.  Welbeck had taken a point off us last season at their traditional Elkelsley Road ground (currently the site of much-needed redevelopment) another result that factored prominently in our eventual failure to clinch promotion.
We started as if we would ensure there was to be no repeat this time.  And after Fitzy had already had a "goal" controversially chalked off inside the first five minutes, Gav put us one up moments later with a cleverly executed free-kick.
Soon afterwards it should have been two; Gav sent tumbling to the deck inside the box and a penalty duly given.  But Chav proved that it's only at home where he doesn't miss penalties, the very vocal Mr. Bennett getting down well to save (although Smalls should really have done better when the ball rebounded up to give him a free header which he couldn't keep down).

 "I like the cut of your jib Mr Porter"

Still, we were so dominant early on that it appeared only a matter of time before a second goal came.  And it did. To Welbeck on 23 minutes courtesy of their first attack.
We were caught out down our left and the ball was gleefully swept home by Asa Bartlett at the far post.
Two minutes later and it should have been 2-1 to the hosts.  Thankfully Smalls more than atoned for his earlier miss with a cracking last-ditch tackle.
Chav should then have restored our lead at the other end but half-time arrived with us all square.

A wealth of experience!

During the interval I phoned the Farm to find out how the Casuals were getting on in their latest (and final) pre-season friendly.  Previous results of 3-8 and 0-12 didn't inspire much hope so I was therefore heartened to hear from Vice Chairman Mickey Bo that not only were we "only" 4-2 down but that by rights we should be level.  Perhaps this season might carry more hope than usual from Maccer's Men.
Also during the break I managed to catch a snap of the  Pete Barnett Branch of the "Green Arrrrmmy", newly kitted-out in their fetching little Newton Heath scarves ("three for fifteen quid off the net, bargain").  Indeed, given the presence in the ground also of the Mountain Family, plus Dooley, 'The Piston' and me, it's fair to say we almost had the bulk of the support at the game.  We certainly had the loudest!
And our vocal chords were to be extended in a blistering twenty-minute spell at the start of the second half.  

Two-one

Three minutes in Gav rattled the Welbeck bar.  
Four minutes later Farny met Chav's corner at the near post, 2-1.
Four minutes later Man Mountain couldn't find the finish to match his mazy run.
A minute later JC's shot was well saved by Bennett with  Blounty heading the resulting corner too high.
Two minutes later, just past the hour, it's 3-1.  A free-kick on halfway, quick thinking by The Stumo who angles a lovely low ball into the left side of the box where Gav provides the deftest of flicks to divert it into the path of Fitzy six or seven yards out.  He doesn't miss.

 Three

Within two more minutes the game is surely won.  Excellent approach play again culminates in Chav's pinpoint cross and Fitzy's powerful header from ten yards, which arcs over the powerless (and by now not-so-vocal) Bennett and into the roof of the net.  A corker. 4-1.

 And that'll be four

Andy Martin made his entrance in-between goals three and four and on this evidence would look to be a very astute signing.  And with him holding the ball up well before bringing others into play, we should really have gone on to score more.
As it was, an urge on the part of some to race "forrad" in an attempt to join the list of scorers saw us caught on the counter and Steve Rudge made it 2-4.
Cue panic.  Josh Murphy blasts over when he should really have scored.  How long left?  Not long...but possibly long enough as Charlie inexplicably picks up Fitzy's backpass in injury time.  The ball is driven across and Rudge slams home for 3-4. 
Thankfully, Farny puts his brawn and brains to use in equal measure near the opposition corner flag to run down the final anxious moments and the points are safe.  Just.

 Job done...just

Perhaps not surprisingly there's an air of disappointment in the changing room afterwards, which continues in the nearby Sports & Social Club (formerly the Miners Welfare).
Thankfully some excellent post-match fare (if not a decent cask ale!) helped revive spirits...although news of yet another defeat on the road for The Tigers did little for my overall demeanour.
The Piston had taken to the day like a duck to water and  was more than pleased to take on board the usual supply of ale for the return journey.  Our trip back north  was accompanied by Radio Humberside's commentary on defeats for both the Dullers and Rovers, the former meaning that both sides would now meet in a Play-Off Eliminator next weekend.

 "Whoever smelt it dealt it!"

With the bus safely returned to its Welwick home and the kit & equipment back at The Granby it would have been rude (but perhaps better for the state of my marriage) not to have taken the chance to sample a pint of Great Newsome Frothingham Best before returning home.  It was so nice I had to have two.
As I made my way home some ten hours since departing the house that morning, I thought to myself, I'm going to pay for this tomorrow.  And I did.  But that's not for public consumption and anyway, I can console myself that it's all in the very best of causes...isn't it?
Nottingham at home next - a real chance to put back-to-back wins together for the first time this season...