The Saturday morning saw what seemed like the first sunshine of 2008 (well at least on a match-day) to the point where G Kent even decided that a SPF 30 face cream would be appropriate for the days basking at Benson Park.Fear not the Ginger Squad (well….Skilly), as the habitual weather soon took hold as Gosforth became as wet and windy as a drowned rat with flatulence issues. The Team-talk was fairly tradition for this time of year (Easter Hols) and centred round the fact we had a bare 11, with J Doyle making his Reserve Team Debut.

The game started well for the Green and Blacks as we started to play our fast-paced game on the deck, culminating in a Peter Hall shot cross that fell to a ‘ well on-side’ Tom Skilbeck to calmly stroke home. At 1-0 we were cruising, that until two mistakes (One from Robertshaw and one from Doyle) gave Blyth a 2-1 half-time lead.

A nasty moment in the second half saw Peter Hall go to ground following a very audible ‘snap’. Initially everyone feared the worst after what was an innocuous moment in the game. Peter had clearly done himself damage but somehow continued the game with a spirit that was enviable, Peter has clearly hurt his ankle and it is hoped he will be fit sooner rather than later for the league run-in.

 At half-time confidence was still high, with an onus placed on the simple game everyone went out with an increased passion to gain at the very least a point. This passion was soon rewarded as Adam Bell was put through by a well placed Skilbeck header to level the game via the right-hand upright! Defensively we remained resolute with strong performances from the back four (Kent, G; Peat, Turner and Riley) and a fantastic reaction to his early error from Robertshaw, demonstrated in a series of strong saves and good handling bearing in mind the conditions. Hamer then went on one of those runs which would usually see his ‘Darren Anderton like’ hamstring pop; beating at least three men with a refusal to go to ground; the end product was not one of note but the run spectacular all the same. It was thought in the after match dressing room that it can only be this that saw the opposition give Brett a MOM for his performance, I’ll leave that for those that were there to decide!! Ha.

 All in all it was an impressive result against what was difficult opposition; it was slightly disappointing not to get all three points but we’ll look at a positive point gained and use it as a springboard to give Forest Hall the reaction they deserve!!

Author: G.Kent

Team: Robertshaw, Kent, G, Peat, Turner, Riley, Hall, Couling, Doyle, Hamer (MOM), Bell, Adam (1) and Skilbeck (1). Sub not used Powlett.

NB: The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the
views of the Gosforth Garnett Bohemian Football Club as a whole.