2018-2019 – Season Review

The 2018-2019 season saw me take in 155 games, 14 more than last season.

From SV Babelsberg 03 to Wideopen and District, FC Krasnodar to East Durham Blue Belles, Oldham Athletic U18s to Aberdeen, I’ve seen quite a variety of teams!

Remaining part of Easington Colliery has seen me take in 50 Easington games, and it is something that will continue into next season.

The 2018-2019 season has seen me take in a couple of very memorable games, and this post will look back on them as well as the usual statistics.

Total matches: 155

Total goals: 635

Average goals per game: 4.096

Average attendance: 1,125.17

Highest attendance: 30,424 (Sunderland vs AFC Wimbledon)

Lowest Attendance: 14 (Durham University 1sts vs Ryton & Crawcrook Albion)

Number of grounds visited: 57

Number of new grounds visited: 19

Number of different leagues watched: 18

Number of different cup competitions watched: 17

Team watched most: Easington Colliery (50 times)

Most expensive programme: Only £3

Cheapest programme: A few were free

Most expensive admission: 30 euros at Bayer 04 Leverkusen 1-1 FC Krasnodar

Highest scoring game: East Durham Blue Belles 0-14 Darlington Spraire Ladies

Amount of 0-0’s: 1

Number of home wins: 76

Number of away wins: 55

Number of draws: 24

Games since a 0-0: 9

Games since the turn of 2019: 72

Televised games: Only 2 unless Bayer Leverkusen was on some channel

Most memorable games:

1. Bayer 04 Leverkusen 1-1 FC Krasnodar

The game itself wasn’t brilliant, but this is because of the whole experience. I went with uni and it was my 21st birthday the day before and we had a night out in Düsseldorf. We had a tour of Borussia Dortmund on the morning/afternoon before heading to this game on a Thursday night. It was my first ever European game (Champions League/Europa League). It was a great couple of days away and a very memorable new ground. I was pleased for Krasnodar when they went through. Their players shook hands with the fans at full-time. You wouldn’t get many other Europa League sides doing that!

• 

2) Berliner AK 07 0-5 SV Babelsberg 03

It’s another foreign one because they’re the ones that stand out seeming as though they’re rare! This game was taken in while I was in Berlin for the Athletics European Championships. It kicked off at 5pm and it was still about 35 degrees at that time! It was the first German game I had ever done and was a very enjoyable experience in very humid weather. Babelsberg won the game easy, killing it off within the opening half hour. Even though they were 5-0 down, the home fans didn’t seem too bothered. This game was just part of a great few days in the German capital.

• 

3) Durham Women 3-1 Manchester United Women

This was just beautiful. Watching little Durham Women beat Manchester United 3-1 was just a beautiful sight. It was even better seeming as though the majority of the crowd was supporting Manchester United. The Durham performance showed what that team is capable of, and it was probably the best game I’ve been to in time time following the Wildcats. The Manchester United fans were very unhappy at full-time, but I loved it!

• 

4) Hartlepool United 3-4 AET Gillingham

I was struggling to decide whether Durham Women or this game made the cut so I went with both in the end. It wasn’t exactly a game I was expecting to be a memorable one, but it turned out to be a cracker. It wasn’t full of top quality football, but it definitely kept you watching. Hartlepool were flying when 2-0 up, but Gillingham forced extra-time with the final kick of the 90 minutes. A few further goals followed in extra time, and it was a very enjoyable FA Cup clash.

• 

Best new grounds:

1. Linlithgow Rose

It’s beautiful. I’d heard about it in the past, but I hadn’t been. It was worth the wait to visit on the Scottish groundhop. The main stand is very nice, as is the rest of the ground. And the pies (I don’t normally eat pies) were very good too. They’re a good club, have a good team and have a lovely ground. You couldn’t ask for much else!

• 

2) Sporting Khalsa

I could have put this in biggest surprise. Even though it’s a new build, I really liked the ground. It had something a bit different, and it was another very enjoyable visit to watch them in FA Vase action.

• 

Biggest surprise

Hibernian

I was expecting to enjoy my visit to Hibs a few weeks ago, but I enjoyed it a lot more than I originally thought I would. It was something different for me. I don’t normally get a train to the game, and I don’t normally watch top flight football. But I really enjoyed it. I even bought a Hibs shirt on the way out of the ground!

• 

Best goal

As is usually the case, I can’t remember! Robert Briggs scored a good one for South Shields at Sunderland RCA. I’ll go with that.

Best food

The chicken curry at Blackburn United was very good. The food in the clubhouse at Sporting Khalsa was very good too. I’d say one of them two.

Best programmes:

1. Salford City

I though it would be when I bought it, and Salford is definitely my programme of the season. It’s only £2 and has 64 pages with some very good content. The cover for their game against Gateshead was very interesting too. A fine effort.

• 

2) Bedlington Terriers

I’ll agree with the Northern League programme awards for this one and go with Bedlington Terriers. Their effort only costs £1 and is rather thick. Some of the pages are the same every week (mainly due to league rules) but there is still plenty of reading content and it’s well worth it’s £1 price tag.

• 

Next season:

In just six or seven weeks time, halfway through pre-season, I’m going to be in Prague for four nights. I’m hoping FC Viktoria Plzeň will be at home in the second qualifying round of the Champions League. That would be an experience! Five days after I come home from Prague, I go to Crete but I’ll be amazed if I get a game there.

I’m hoping to go to EURO 202 but that’ll probably be for the 2020-2021 season.

A massive THANK YOU to everyone who has taken time to read my posts throughout the 2018-2019 season and I hope you follow my travels next season too.

Advertisements

Kello Rovers vs Rossvale Juniors

When I was with Lee Stewart and Katie Wallace at Winlaton Vulcans a couple of weeks ago, this game was suggested for today. Lee and Katie hadn’t been to Kello, but they had done Rossvale and said that the people at Rossvale were very welcoming. We decided that we would make the trip up to this game and John McClure came with us. So, this game had actually been planned for a couple of weeks. With it being three hours away and having to meet Lee and Katie, I had to leave the house at about half 9. It wasn’t exactly ideal seeming as though I had been out in Sunderland until 3 in the morning celebrating finishing University! This game today could have been my last of the season. I might do the King Cup final next week for teams in the East of Scotland League, but that’ll be venue dependent.

Kello Rovers’ ground is quite a traditional one. There are two stands – one small seated (well, kind of seated) stand attached to the changing rooms, and a bigger stand on the other side. It’s my 175th ground, and the game was my 155th of the season.

Rossvale had plenty to play for today. A win would secure promotion to the West Region Juniors Premiership.

We were standing near most of their people throughout the game, and they are a very good bunch. I’ll hopefully get to visit them one day.

To the game and Rossvale couldn’t have hoped for a better start. Less than a minute in, a foul in the penalty area gave Rossvale a penalty. With 90 seconds played, Liam Crichton took responsibility, and he tucked it home to put the visitors in command.

Still only in the fourth minute, Rossvale looked to have doubled their lead. A cross wasn’t dealt with by Kello, and it eventually dropped to a Rossvale man whose effort was going in. It looked to be over the line when a Kello player blocked, but the officials thought otherwise.

Although Rossvale were the better side, Kello were dangerous when going forward, and a couple of efforts inside the opening quarter of an hour had to be dealt with by Rossvale.

In the 17th minute, Rossvale had the ball in the net for a second time. A square ball led to an open goal, but once the ball was in the net, the assistant referee raised his flag for offside.

The game then settled down with half chances coming at both ends.

Shortly before the break, a dangerous Kello free-kick deflected off the wall but goalkeeper Jamie Donnelly was able to save.

A good save from the Kello ‘keeper then prevented Rossvale, before another Rossvale effort darted just wide of the top corner.

Following the break, there wasn’t a great deal of goalmouth action inside the opening 15 minutes.

However, in the 64th minute, the visitors doubled their lead. A corner was swung into the Kello penalty area where their ‘keeper had committed. He came charging out and totally missed the ball, and that left Matt Niven to cushion a header into the net to double Rossvale’s lead.

Having doubled their lead, Rossvale then needed to defend. A crucial block prevented Kello, before a looping header was saved by Donnelly.

A six-yard bicycle kick then dipped just over for the hosts, before Rossvale had a couple of further chances come and go.

In truth though, Rossvale’s lead never really look threatened and they were good value for their win.

A big congratulations goes to everyone at Rossvale for achieving back-to-back promotions to the top flight of the juniors pyramid.

Full-time: Kello Rovers 0-2 Rossvale Juniors

Next up for me is possibly the King Cup final next week. Or maybe this was my final game.

Admission: £6 adults, £3 concessions

Programme: No

Attendance: About 130

Sausage roll: £1.20

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Hibernian vs Aberdeen

This certainly isn’t the sort of game you’d expect me to do on a Sunday afternoon! Last Sunday, Rory Drake messaged me asking if I had a game today and said that he was thinking of doing this game. As I had no game, and as it’s coming towards the end of the season, as long as it wasn’t too expensive, I was definitely up for it. It’s not very often I’d get the chance to do a Scottish Premier League game on a Sunday afternoon with no other games. In the end, I paid £14 for a student ticket and £29 return trains from Durham to Edinburgh. The ground is only about a 20 minute walk from Edinburgh Waverley station. And, I really enjoyed it. As you probably know, the top flight of English football doesn’t bother me at all and I probably wouldn’t enjoy a visit to a Premier League game (unless it’s like the hospitality I had at Manchester United vs Hull City in the League Cup semi-final a few years ago), but I really enjoyed a trip to the top flight of Scottish football at Hibs. The stadium is quite nice yet modern, and it’s not in a bad location only a 20 minute walk from Edinburgh stadium. I found everyone at Hibs quite friendly. Getting the train somewhere a bit further away for a game is something I need to do more often. I definitely need to get to Doncaster Rovers that way at some point. On the way out, I even bought this season’s (well, the season just finished) Hibs home shirts. I was quite a fan of it and it was only £15 so I thought I’d get one. After the game, it was a steady walk back to Edinburgh Waverley, via the club shop, to catch the 18:00 train back to Durham.

To the game and it was a good one between two good sides.

Hibernian were probably the better side for the majority of the first half, and they deserved their 26th minute lead. After a few chances for both sides, Fraser Murray dinked a superb ball into Marc McNulty who beat the offside trap to slot home.

The hosts went close again soon after, but Aberdeen proved to be more of a threat in the final five minutes of the first half.

And, in the 43rd minute, Aberdeen pulled level. Good work from Connor McLennan down the left gave him room to cross, and his ball passed a few players to Sam Cosgrove who took control before drilling home.

Both sides had chances early in the second half, but none were as close as Daryl Horgan’s 59th minute effort which curled just wide.

Hibernian would be made to pay as Aberdeen went up the other end and took the lead in the 63rd minute. It came through fine flowing football down the left wing. McLennan, Cosgrove and substitute Stevie May all linked up with May’s final ball picking out James Wilson who slotted home to put the Dons ahead.

Cosgrove then forced a save from Ofir Marciano, before Tomáš Černý’s save at the other end denied David Gray.

In injury time, Aberdeen were awarded a great chance to seal the points when they were awarded a penalty for Gray’s foul on Gary Mackay-Steven saw the referee point to the penalty spot. Cosgrove took responsibility from 12 yards, but his poor penalty was saved by Marciano.

However, it counted for little as the final whistle was soon blown and Aberdeen took all three points.

Kilmarnock’s win against Rangers means Aberdeen finish fourth, but they could still qualify for the Europa League if Celtic beat Hearts in the Scottish Cup final.

Hibs, on the other hand, finish the 2018-2019 campaign in fifth.

Full-time: Hibernian 1-2 Aberdeen

Next up for me is hopefully a game in Scotland next Saturday.

Hibernian: Marciano, Gray (c), Hanlon, Milligan (Bartley, 64’), Horgan (Shaw, 79’), McNulty, Mallan, Stevenson, McGregor, Murray, Omeonga (Slivka, 83′)

Unused subs: Bogdán, Whittaker, Agyepong, Gauld

Aberdeen: Černý, Logan, Shinnie (c), Considine, McKenna, Wilson, Cosgrove, Ferguson (Devlin, 85′), Ball (May, 61′), McLennan (Mackay-Steven, 77′), Lowe

Unused subs: Craddock, Gleeson, Campbell, Ross

Admission: £23 adults, £14 concessions, £12/£14 Under-12

Programme: £3

Attendance: 18,631

Coke: £2.70

Referee: Euan Anderson

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Coundon & Leeholme vs Wideopen and District

Berwick Rangers vs Cove Rangers was the plan for quite a while for a game today. It was only earlier this week that I opted not to go to Berwick. There were three reasons behind that decision really. Firstly, and chiefly, I’m now having a rather unexpected trip to Hibernian vs Aberdeen, so I opted against two quite long trips two days in a row. Secondly, it was the Tour Series cycling in Durham tonight. Had I gone to Berwick, I would have definitely missed the women’s race and most of the men’s race. And, lastly, after the 4-0 win for Cove at their place last weekend, it was basically game over for Berwick. It isn’t nice to see them relegated but as they currently are, I think they’ll struggle in the Lowland League too. This was the only game I knew of in the north east today. Coundon is a ground I looked at doing a couple of times when they played in the Durham Alliance, but I never got around to it. Today gave a good opportunity to get there. And, today was also the last time this Coundon & Leeholme team will play as they’re folding with the people involved moving to Brandon United in the Northern League. Following this game, I went straight through to Durham for the Tour Series and watched both the women’s elite race and the men’s elite race. It’s always a good event in Durham but it was a bit different with it being on a Saturday night.

To the game and it was an entertaining one. Coundon broke the deadlock in just the seventh minute. Two clever passes saw the hosts beat the offside trap twice, and a clever chipped finish from Johnson Ballan put the hosts ahead.

Following a couple of further chances for Coundon, they doubled their lead in the 14th minute. A ball straight over the top played Lewis Martin in and he rounded the ‘keeper before slotting home.

Just two minutes later, Wideopen halved the deficit. Leeroy Odd’s low free-kick was saved, but a Wideopen man was quickest to react to fire home the rebound.

Still only in the 17th minute, Coundon regained their two goal cushion. It was a bit scrappy as two attempted balls didn’t find their intended target. Wideopen couldn’t clear though, and it dropped to Martin who helped it into the net.

In the 22nd minute, Wideopen halved the deficit once again. It was probably the pick of the goals as a 35 yard effort sailed over the ‘keeper and dropped into the net.

Again though, Coundon regained their two goal cushion almost immediately. Ballan was fouled in the penalty area, and Liam Bain took responsibility from 12 yards. He sent the ‘keeper the wrong way to make it 4-2.

That proved to be all of the goals for the first half even though there were plenty more chances.

Wideopen had a goal ruled out for offside, before Coundon & Leeholme hit the post at the other end.

A few further efforts for the hosts went close, before a fine save from the Coundon & Leeholme ‘keeper prevented a Wideopen header.

Following the break, the hosts made it 5-2 within two minutes of the restart. A corner came into the near post, and Peter Gills was there to volley home.

Five minutes later, Wideopen scored their third of the afternoon. A ball through the middle found their man who lobbed the ‘keeper. A Coundon defender tried to clear it off the line, but he could only blast it off the inside of the post and into the net.

In the 57th minute, Wideopen fourth meant they were back within one. It was worked down the wing before a low ball wasn’t dealt with by the hosts. The ball then dropped to the Wideopen forward who poked home from six yards.

On the hour mark, the hosts regained their two goal cushion. Some decent passing football found Ballan and he drove through a couple of players before finishing well for his second.

Both sides then had big chances, before Coundon made it 7-4 halfway through the second half. A good ball over the top picked out Ballan whose promising first touch was matched by a good finish for his hat-trick.

The hosts were denied by the Wideopen ‘keeper a couple of times inside the final 15 minutes, before Wideopen scored their fifth in the 83rd minute. A deep ball found their man at the back post, and his controlled volley pulled the visitors back within two.

With the last kick of the game, in the 90th minute, Coundon & Leeholme rounded off the scoring. A promising run resulted with a pull back to Peter Brown who finished well.

In all, Coundon probably deserved their win, but Wideopen were good value for their five goals.

Full-time: Coundon & Leeholme 8-5 Wideopen and District

Next up for me is Hibernian vs Aberdeen tomorrow.

Admission: Free

Programme: No

Attendance: 25

Referee: Connor Scott

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Durham Women vs Tottenham Hotspur Ladies

I didn’t mind it when they changed this game to this evening from tomorrow (well, it’s now today seeming as though it’s 1am) afternoon. I knew that I was almost certain to be able to get to a game beforehand. That game proved to be a new ground for me and then it was down to this game. Had Sunderland vs Portsmouth kicked off at 20:00 rather than 19:30, I would have gone there too but it wasn’t to be. We’re definitely getting towards the end of the season now. I don’t know if I’ll get to a game midweek, but I will be at Berwick Rangers vs Cove Rangers next Saturday, and I’ve just booked to go to Hibernian vs Aberdeen next Sunday with Rory Drake. I’ll then hopefully have a game on the following Saturday in Scotland, but that’s likely to be my season finished after that game.

Match report:

Tottenham Ladies claim points at Durham

Tottenham Ladies rounded off their Women’s Championship campaign with a 0-2 win at Durham.

Durham played the majority of the game with 10 players following Beth Hepple’s red card, but the Wildcats dominated against already promoted Tottenham.

However, it was Tottenham who took the points through an Anna Filbey brace.

Durham started very well and a Nicki Hears header forced a save inside a minute.

Zoe Ness then went close for Durham, but her dipping effort was narrowly too high.

Spurs were creating very little early on, with a poked Rianna Dean effort being as close as they got.

Then came the moment that could have changed the game. Hepple was talking to the referee in the centre of the park, and then the referee showed her a yellow card. Talk continued for five seconds or so before the referee showed her a straight red card and she was off.

Despite being down to 10, Durham continued to look the brighter side.

Emily Roberts had an effort well saved, before Abby Holmes prodded wide.

Tottenham went close when Hannah Reid was forced into a save to prevent Emma Beckett’s free-kick.

In the 34th minute, Tottenham had goalkeeper Chloe Morgan to thank. Sarah Robson drove through the middle before unleashing a shot from 20 yards, and a superb Morgan save tipped it onto the crossbar.

Robson and Holmes then had further chances as Durham continued to look the brighter, but Spurs survived.

With six minutes of the first half to play, Morgan once again produced a fine save. This time it was Roberts whose dipping header was destined for the top corner, but again Morgan was there to claw the ball onto the crossbar.

Two minutes after the break, Coral-Jade Haines fired well over for the visitors.

Gears, Roberts and Robson all went close, before Roberts had another effort cleared off the line.

Tottenham were looking most dangerous on the break, and one of them led to Haines having a glorious chance in the 56th minute. A cross picked out the former Birmingham City midfielder, but her header was saved at point-blank range by Reid.

Spurs were coming into the game as the second half wore on, but their opening goal in the 70th minute probably didn’t reflect the game. A teasing cross was swung into the area, and Filbey flung herself at the ball to send a powerful header into the net.

Lisa Robertson then had a couple of efforts go close for Durham, and the Wildcats were again definitely the better side.

With Durham piling forward, Tottenham were breaking well. Jessica Naz had a great chance to wrap up the points for Spurs in the 83rd minute, but she could only fire wide.

A nasty injury to Durham’s Sarah Wilson delayed play late on.

Once the game was back underway, Spurs wrapped up the win with their second in the second minute of added time. It came through another Filbey header as she met a corner at the near post and headed home.

That proved to be that, and Tottenham finished off their promotion winning campaign with a good win on the road.

Full-time: Durham Women 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur Ladies

Next up for me is probably Berwick Rangers vs Cove Rangers next Saturday unless I get to a game midweek.

Durham Women: Reid, Hill, Christon, Salicki (Holmes, 27′), Wilson (c) (Cottam, 90′), Robson, Robertson, Hepple, Roberts, Gears, Ness (Holder, 84′)

Unused subs: Borthwick, Greenwood, Ryan, Elliott

Tottenham Hotspur Ladies: Morgan, Leon, Meiwald, Baptiste (Vyse, 80′), Dean, Martin (c), Wynne, Addison (Haines, 40′), Filbey, Beckett, Naz

Unused subs: Gibbon, Green, Mclean, Wiltshire, Neville

Admission: £5 adults, £2 concessions

Programme: £2

Attendance: 533

Teamsheet: Free with programme

Cheeseburger and chips: £5

Referee: Jon Matthews

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Winlaton Vulcans vs Gosforth Bohemians

I was always going to do Durham Women vs Tottenham Hotspur Ladies at half 5 today. That meant I had to work around that game. I had looked at doing Ferryhill Town in the Crook and District League at 2, but then Katie Wallace said that she and Lee were going to this game and then Durham Women so I opted to go with them. In previous write ups, I’ve said I was going to do Sunderland’s play-off game. Out of the four dates and times of play-off games, the Saturday night at 19:30 was the one I didn’t want as I couldn’t get there in time from Durham Women. If they were playing tomorrow, I would have been there. I would have also been there if they were at home on Thursday or Friday. This game today brought about a new ground and a new team in Gosforth, but I had seen Winlaton before. I watched them in the Durham Minor Cup final at Hetton in April last year.

Match report:

Winlaton Vulcans finish season with victory

Winlaton Vulcans finished their Northern Alliance campaign with a 2-0 home win against Gosforth Bohemians on Saturday afternoon.

Jack Moulding put Winlaton ahead in the 51st minute, and Kyle Wharton’s 78th minute strike ensured they took the points.

The result means Winlaton finish their league campaign in third position, just one point behind second-placed Cullercoats.

After just a few minutes, a bad injury delayed play. Following five minutes of treatment, the Gosforth defender was stretchered off and play resumed.

The first chance fell the way of Winlaton in the 12th minute. A long throw picked out Ben Gardner, but his header was just wide of the top corner.

Sean Best then had an effort saved for the Vulcans, before Alex Kennedy fired over at the other end.

With exactly half an hour played, a long Winlaton throw was flicked on to find Dean Hendry six yards from goal, but he could only blaze wide.

Dan Ure was next to go close for Gosforth, but he could only skew wide.

In first half injury time, the visitors almost took the lead. Kennedy ran through on goal, and his poked effort had the ‘keeper beaten, but it was cleared off the line.

Winlaton started the second half well, and after a good early chance, they broke the deadlock in the 51st minute. A low ball was played into Moulding who beat two Gosforth defenders before slotting past the ‘keeper to put the hosts ahead.

Having taken the lead, Winlaton went in search of a second. Hendry and Best both tried their luck to no avail.

Following a slight quiet spell, Gosforth Bohemians forced a save from Andrew Wright at his near post.

Best was then denied by Gosforth’s Nathan Spence, before Spence was on hand to save another Best effort.

In the 78th minute, Winlaton wrapped up the points. It was a well worked move into Wharton, whose dinked finish lobbed the ‘keeper and dropped into the net.

Moulding and Craig Rook both had chances late on for Winlaton, while Kennedy went close at the other end, but no more goals were scored and it finished two-nil.

Full-time: Winlaton Vulcans 2-0 Gosforth Bohemians

Next up for me is probably Berwick Rangers vs Cove Rangers next Saturday unless I get to a game midweek.

Apologies if these team lines up are wrong. Someone was reading them out to me as I typed them on my phone. The Northern Alliance website has been handy for me in correcting them but there may still be one or two wrong.

Winlaton Vulcans: Wright, Wharton, Rook, Calvert (Shepherd, 84′), Gardner, Anderson (Robinson, 83′), Best (Kirtley, 84′), Moulding, Baldwin (Cameron, 68′), Hendry (Waters, 68′), Codling

No unused subs

Gosforth Bohemians: Spence, Moscardini, Riley, Collins (Coyle, 9′), Peel, Hall, Rush, Boyle, Roberts, Kennedy, Ure

Unused sub: Harris

Admission: Free

Attendance: 37

Programme: No

Referee: Keith Jobling

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Grangetown Boys Club vs Bedale

This time last season, the main league season had finished in most leagues, but there was still quite a bit of choice. I still had eight games left after the eighth of May last year. I’ll be amazed if I get to eight more games for the remainder of this season. When I was looking for games a few weeks ago for tonight, this was the one that stuck out. Mind, that was mainly because it was at Thornaby. If it was at Redcar like a couple of the other North Riding League finals, I wouldn’t have been there. Although I’ve seen a couple of teams in the league, I’ve never had much to do with the North Riding League (or Teesside League as it used to be). I had never seen either of these two teams play before tonight and I had never seen a game in the Lou Moore Trophy.

To the game and Grangetown had a shot saved within 70 seconds, but Bedale were awarded a penalty with just three and a half minutes on the clock as their lad pinched possession in the penalty area before being caught. Dan Caisley’s penalty was saved, but he was on hand to convert the rebound.

Bedale were edging it early on, but Grangetown were creating chances. A glancing header wasn’t far away from Grangetown, before they had a goal ruled out for offside.

In the 24th minute, a speculative Grangetown effort sailed well over.

A Bedale towering header forced a good save in the 38th minute, before Bedale almost doubled their lead just before the break. A sharp counter attack saw them beat the offside trap and a ball across goal played their forward in. He looked to take it round the ‘keeper, but the ‘keeper did enough to make the ball his.

Following the break, despite a chance for Bedale, Grangetown came out revitalised. It led to them equalising in the 50th minute. A free-kick was flicked on to drop in the area, and a drilled high effort levelled the scoreline.

Grangetown then had a few chances as they looked for a second, but Bedale slowly made their way back into the game.

A speculative bicycle kick forced a good save from the Grangetown stopper in the 66th minute, but there was nothing he could do about Bedale’s next chance. Superb work down the right wing eventually saw a low cross find Callum Fletcher at the back post, and he was on hand to steer the ball into the bottom corner.

A Bedale effort was deflected just wide in the 70th minute, before Grangetown pulled level for a second time seven minutes later. It came courtesy of a superb 25-yard free-kick being curled into the top corner.

Now level and with 10 minutes to play, penalties looked likely.

However, Bedale rallied and had a couple of good opportunities before taking the lead for a third time in the 83rd minute. A corner was swung into the area, and Josh Fullarton’s glancing header nestled into the net.

Three minutes later, Bedale doubled their lead to make sure of the win. A cross was curled into a dangerous position, and the Grangetown ‘keeper gambled by diving towards the ball. However, Ross Hodgson nipped in and headed into an empty net to give Bedale the win on a wet night at Teesdale Park.

Congratulations to Bedale on their win.

Full-time: Grangetown Boys Club 2-4 Bedale

Next up for me is hopefully a double on Saturday.

Admission: £3 adults, £1 concessions

Programme: No

Attendance: About 85

Referee: Chris Profitt

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

•