Saturday morning was a bit of a mess - too much to do with too few hours - which basically saw me failing miserably to get back to Mossley in time for the North Ferriby minibus - so Hyde v Gainsborough it was.
Here's the hair cut mentioned in ealier posts (Peter - beware - he's a black belt at ju-jitsu !)
Got to Stalybridge in time for a beer before the massed ranks of Alfreton Town fans turned up (they had a 24 seater - Mossley's was only a 15 seater - such is Conf North !)
"There is a place in Stalybridge that will be forever Alfreton" - outside the Buffet Bar
A couple of beers later (after a natter with Wozza from Alfreton) saw me on the bus to Hyde (exclusive bus ticket pic on the wristy blog site) and it was into Hyde (cheapest Conf North ground in Tameside - only £9 !).
Met James the "Tannoy Man" (apparently now relegated to the reserves games) flogging predictions sheets in the bar - another nice touch in the bar was the retailing of "Tiger Beer" - I liked that !
A lovely sunny day (just like the last time I was at Hyde on the Mossley sponsored walk) saw Hyde kicking off towards the "swimming pool end" where the stand is actually outside the perimeter wall (!) - it looked a poor crowd (later - it was - 300 ?).
After about 10 minutes a long ball broke loose for Dale Johnson to neatly round the keeper and put the Tigers 1-0 up
Dale Johnson - 1-0 - note small boy (happy)
It was an interesting half - Gainsborough certainly seemed to be playing the better football whereas Hyde were mostly reduced to the long ball - but it was Hyde who were getting the better chances - and there was a fair shout for a penalty when Johnson went down just after the half-hour - not given.
1-0 at half-time - clocked a few scores in the club (got the 0-0 at North Ferriby phone call too from Stuart !) - Stafford 4-0 at Stevenage - eek ! Also met Gav from Hyde for a quick chat .
Second half started gently - David Eyres was subbed after 10 mins (well he's getting on a bit !) - but the game continued pretty much in the same vein - Gainsborough trying to work it into the box and Hyde sticking with the long ball out (although must say - Dale Johnson and Gareth Seddon seemed to be quite OK with this style of delivery).
It looked like Hyde were "hanging on" for a 1-0 win - until it all exploded in time added on when Seddon scored with a "belter", closely followed by a third from Dale Johnson - in the end I guess 3-0 was somewhat flattering - but hey it's Hyde's first win of the season and that'll do their confidence the world of good.
Seddon's "screamer" - and the keeper still hasn't hit the deck !
The Tigers fans were certainly "roaring" at the end - just what they needed !
After the game I slipped into the "Sportsman" (best real ale pub in the locality) and bumped into Paul who used to work at our place (Simon Carves Cheadle Hulme - you know the place - see earlier posts !) - discussed real ale for a while before I returned to sunny Mossley (having also found out via the good phone that Mossley - 1-0 up with 5 to go - had lost 2-1 - aargh !).
Then found out about Matt Gadsby - which put all football stuff on hold for a time of contemplation - and a few tears I admit. I don't like to hear of such happenings - 'cause it hurts - even when you don't know those involved - at this level of football we're "all family" really so to lose one is not nice. Rest in peace Matt Gadsby.....
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