Not so quiet on the Weston front!

EBAC NORTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION TWO
DARLINGTON RA 3 HEBBURN TOWN 0
By Ricky Butler at Brinkburn Road

TEN YEARS AGO this week, Darlington RA returned to the Northern League and this proved to be the perfect way to celebrate that particular anniversary.

After the disappointment of seeing their hero, Mikey Weston, left on the bench for the midweek cup defeat to Jarrow Roofing, the Infoserve gang voted with their feet this time; preferring to stay in the pub or go shopping than make the weekly pilgrimage to Brinkburn Road.

And just to prove why he shouldn't have been left out of the Jarrow match, Mikey not only marked Hebburn danger-man, the giant Channon North, out of the match but also scored with a trademark header to seal this victory. (Please note, this paragraph was written by Mr Weston himself!!!)

Mikey Weston; on the mark for Darlington RA

In the unusually warm autumnal sunshine, the first half was a mundane affair with neither side creating very much. With the absence of young Shane Campbell in the crowd, disappointingly no longer an Infoserver either, there was literally nothing to get excited about as the meager crowd slopped off for some much needed half time refreshment.

However, it all kicked off in the second half. On the hour a routine free kick to Hebburn ended with the RA's Joe Peel being shown a straight red card for an apparent elbow on a visiting player. It looked no more than a case of handbags but the referee saw it differently and the hosts were down to ten men.

But when the going gets tough, the tough get going and just seven minutes later the RA went in front with a fine strike from Darren Kokes. Anyone who has followed my blogs over the last few years will remember Kokesy from his Northallerton days. A wholehearted, unselfish player, Kokesy's work often goes unrewarded so it was great to see him get on the score-sheet for the first time this season.

Darren Kokes opened the scoring

Despite their one man disadvantage, the RA doubled their lead soon after with what is fast becoming a regular occurrence in these parts; a wonder goal from young Harvey Saunders. Without wishing to sound like his agent, I have to say the lad is a talent. This goal; cutting in from the right before firing in at the near post, once again illustrated why he will be playing at a much higher level before too long. Of course I would be happy to take an agents fee when he does join Newcastle United...

The North-East's next big thing; young Harvey Saunders

But the highlight was still to come. With just over ten minutes left, Infoserve's very own Mikey Weston, rose like a salmon at the far post to head home the third. He now claims to have scored over 200 goals in his football career but if you take out all of the ones he has scored on Football Manager you are only left with about 10. Even so, not bad for a fat lad who plays at the back!!!

So the equilibrium was restored. Mikey was back in the side, the RA won and the sun was shining. All in all a very good Saturday. Next up for the RA is a midweek trip to Heaton Stannington before Hall Road Rangers visit in the FA Vase next weekend. Rumour has it that the Infoserve gang are due to return for that one...

All quiet on the Weston front - Part two

BROOKS MILESON LEAGUE CUP FIRST ROUND
DARLINGTON RA 1 JARROW ROOFING 2
By Ricky Butler at Brinkburn Road

IN WHAT is fast becoming the weekly Infoserve night out, I once again found myself at Brinkburn Road to watch Darlington RA face Jarrow Roofing in the Northern League Brooks Mileson League Cup. 

Accompanied once again by work colleagues, Eddie, Damo, Shane and, adding some much needed glamour; Nicky, this week we were joined by Gauchy and Nicky's two children; meaning that between us we made up more than half of the crowd!

With most of us there to watch another Infoserve legend, Mikey Weston, you can imagine the disappointment when we discovered he was only starting on the bench. In fact most of the team which had performed so well against Hartlepool last week were 'rested,' including young striker Harvey Saunders.

Jarrow have come a long way in a short space of time, largely due to the financial input of manager Richie McLoughlin. Now plying their trade in Division One, the visitors from Tyneside started this tie as clear favorites, perhaps explaining the RA team selection.

The first half went very much with the form book. Jarrow were the better team and fully deserved their 2-0 half time lead. The first goal was a great strike from Adam Rundle, cutting in from the left before drilling an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner of the net.

The general view from around us however, was that Mikey would have 'smashed him' before he had the chance to score. And judging by his foul mood at work all day, I'd say that may well have been the case!!

The second goal was a gift by RA goalkeeper Rob Gustard. At first deciding to come for a long ball, the stopper then made the fatal mistake of changing his mind, allowing John Campbell to beat him and roll the ball into the empty net.

To try and liven up a rather drab first half Shane was tempted to do a streak and even stripped down to his boxer shorts before thinking better of it. Being a chilly night he decided it would probably do him little favours, even though most of Darlington has already seen all he has to offer!!!

Late out for the second half, the RA certainly upped their game after the restart. The introduction of Saunders, who had originally been named in the starting line up but then withdrawn due to an 'injury,' certainly looked fit and gave the hosts some much needed impetus.

But the longer the half wore on the more we were resigning ourselves to the fact that this week we would not be seeing Mikey miss headers or score own goals. When the third and final substitution was made with fifteen minutes left we knew our night was ruined before it had really begun.

In the end the RA did pull a goal back, a fine header from substitute Jordan Hanratty, but it was too little too late. So a night that had promised so much ended in disappointment, both for the RA and the Infoserve crew who sloped off to the bar to drawn their sorrows.

In the overall scheme of things defeat in a competition they had little chance of winning  may not be the end of the world for RA manager Warren Moncur. But then again he does not have to sit next to Mikey at work tomorrow. The words bear and sore head spring to mind.

Still there is another match on Saturday as the RA celebrate 10 years since their first ever Northern League home match with the visit of Hebburn Town. With both Mikey and young Harvey expected to be in the starting line up, another Infoserve day out may well be on the agenda.

All quiet on the Weston front

DURHAM CHALLENGE CUP 

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...