DARLINGTON RA 2 HARTLEPOOL UNITED 4
By Ricky Butler at Brinkburn Road
FOR ONCE I was not at a Northern League
ground to film a match but to just simply enjoy the football on
offer. And there was much to enjoy.
The RA are a much changed side from the
last time I saw them play just over a year ago. In fact the only
players I recognised were Darren Kokes and Mike Colman from my days
at Northallerton, and my work colleague, Mikey Weston.
To say Mikey is a no-nonsense defender
would be an understatement. This guy was born to defend! Ironically
the last time I saw him play was for Willington in the match that
will be forever remembered for my infamous report!
Thankfully there was no such drama this
time, although the game had been hyped up ever since the draw was made.
Well when I say hyped up what I
basically mean is Shane from work running around telling everyone how
great it was going to be!
Such a frenzy was created over social
media that not only did the club employ a local security company to
ensure the night ran smoothly but the BBC selected the match to be
featured on a new series on grass-roots football. The local police
even took down the RA website and Facebook page as a precaution!
But in the end the night passed off
without a hitch, bar a flare thrown onto the pitch in the second
half. The anticipated gate of 2,000 failed to materialise, although
the crowd of over 300 was much needed for a club like the RA who do
not have the cash of many of their Northern League rivals.
In truth I had only really come to
watch Mikey. He sits next to me at work and having to suffer his
horrendous banter every day this was my chance for revenge. Or so I
thought.
But despite coming up against lads half
his age, the big fella coped admirably. In fact I would go as far as
to say he bossed it! The only ammunition I had for the following
morning at the office was a late header which he put over the bar and
even that was clutching at straws!
However, it was not just about a certain Mr Weston. Up front for the RA was a young lad called Harvey Saunders
who completely stole the show. The way he took his second half goal
showed the touch and composure that many of the Hartlepool U18 players
would have benefited from.
The RA actually took an early lead when
Saunders was fouled just outside the penalty area and Jim Wilson
curled a wonderful free kick into the top corner. In fact the hosts
were the better side in the opening period with the pace of Saunders and
Wilson a constant threat.
But the young Hartlepool team looked
much more dangerous after the break. They were level with a slightly
dubious penalty (according to Mikey!) and then took the lead with a
swift counter attack.
The RA were not unduly concerned and
equalised soon after with an exquisite goal from Saunders. His first
touch was to kill the ball dead and then when it broke to him in the
area, he dummied the keeper before slotting into the empty net. And
all this while carrying a hamstring injury that forced him off soon
after. No wonder so many professional clubs are looking at him.
But almost immediately Hartlepool
regained the lead with a superb strike from a tight angle before
adding a fourth on the break. That was not quite the end of the drama
as Kokes fired wide from a good position before Weston's late header
ended up halfway down Brinkburn Road.
So all in all a good night's football.
A thoroughly entertaining game which I am sure will make great
viewing on BBC 3 later this year.
Having been a long standing supporter
of Northern League football, and a former RA player myself (albeit
for the Vets team) I have now vowed to pay a visit to Brinkburn Road
far more regularly this season, if only so I will be there to see
Mikey fall over the ball or score an own goal!!
On the evidence of this 90 minutes however, I
may be waiting a long time...
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