The outlaws are visiting and thus my options are limited. We’ve been to the Dun Cow in Sedgefield for lunch, famously patronised by Blair and Bush in the Good Old Days and it’s after 2. I could go Northern League, but I haven’t been to Darlo in a while, and (an)other new dawn has broken. Alan Armstrong has been sacked as manager and incoming ex-Hereford boss Josh Gowling is in, promising all kinds of improvements. Don’t they always?
We have not left September and already this looks a 6-pointer. Darlo, bottom of the table with one win and 6 points from 9 games face Gloucester City, a point and a place better off, in the National League NORTH. Along with Banbury and Bishop Stortford, the current geographical anomaly at the 6th tier of English football means a return journey of nearly 500 miles. (Blyth Spartans would be another 50 miles north.)
Thus, 2 struggling sides, I was looking forward to an open game full of mistakes and goals. It went the other way. This was one of the worst games of football I’ve seen since the goalless draw in the Auckland derby the other week. For great swathes of the game, Darlo’s back 4 kicked it square, square and backwards as Gloucester’s press was minimal. 72% home possession, and nary a shot to show for it. Indeed, Gloucester took the lead, a lovely flick on the halfway line beating the offside trap and putting Smalley clean through to finish. Despite supporting the home side, it was worth it to see the melange of bodies celebrating in their Melchester Rovers red and yellow hooped kit. A beautiful thing.
There was a modicum of improvement in the second half, or the last 20 minutes thereof, as City retreated towards their own goal and home star man Will Hatfield (returning to Blackwell Meadows after a season at AFC Fylde) increased his influence. He’s chopped down on 72 minutes and bags the resultant penalty. Despite further pressure, the visitors’ goal remains safe till injury time, when Hatfield’s 20 yarder was tipped around the post. It would’ve been a climactic end to a non-climatic game. The ref blows and fans and players applaud each other. The latter have had a particular tough 90 minutes and deserve all they receive. It’s going to be a long season.
The Damage:
£15 ent
£3 programme
£2 donation to ground development fund
= £20
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