Washington 1 – 1
Seaham Red Star (Northern League Division 2), 19th April 2014
I’d thought that
today’s hop was based around Newcastle, but game 2 today exposed my lack of
geographical knowledge of the North East. Washington play at the Nissan plant
in Sunderland, which was a 30-40 minute walk from Jarrow’s ground in Boldon.
Sunderland is of course a separate city to Newcastle, so I felt a sense of
trepidation as I crossed the boundary into the Wearside area. I had visions of
not being able to find the ground in the huge Nissan plant, but need not have
worried as the path I followed (alongside a transport museum) took me directly
out onto a massive car-park, where there were plenty of sign-posts to the
sports complex at the back.
Entrance £5 again,
but this time the programme was thrown in for free, and it was a pretty
impressive publication too, printed on card, and with plenty of detailed
information about today’s game. As I expected, the ground was modern and neat,
with a large upstairs bar in the clubhouse building, and a decent stand of
seating on the right-hand side. I liked the stand, as it had 5-6 rows of
terracing at the front, with a few rows of seats running back from there.
Looking at the
league table, I expected Seaham to easily overcome Washington today, as they
were sitting near the top of the table. It started off that way, with Seaham
(actually playing in blue) having a couple of warning shots wide from Palmer
and Johnston, before Nicholson’s side foot forced a terrific save from the home
keeper. Washington started to hold their own in midfield, and opened the
scoring after a swift move of one and two-touch football which ended with a great
volley from David Southern. The Seaham keeper prevented them doubling their
lead when he tipped a deflected shot around the post. It was clearly a good day
for the goalies with home keeper saving a downward header from Seaham’s Darryll
Donnelly, and then a free-kick from Washington tipped around almost bang on
half-time.
The weather during
the first half had been bizarre in the extreme. I’d ended up wearing a warm
black hat to cope with the strong wind running across the ground, and
sunglasses to cope with the bright sunny weather. I must have looked a sight to
an impartial observer, but nobody seemed to mind. For the second half I opted
for the terraces in front of the main stand, resting my tired legs before the
walk back to the metro.
The second half was
as evenly contested as the first, and Washington continued to belie their
league position. Seaham’s Lewis Wing threatened with a curling shot flying wide
early on, before Washington’s Coughlan was dismissed for a second yellow card.
It looked like a soft one to me – either way, the impressive-looking home side
were down to 10 men for this half. Seaham had a spell of possession and
chances, and converted when Nicholson volleyed in to make it 1-1. Strangely
from this point on, the chances all seemed to fall to Washington, who were
utterly resolute in their attacking and desire to score another. James Farley volleyed over, before his flicked
header over an onrushing keeper didn’t quite reach the net. Southern’s free kick flew over, before a tame
right foot shot from Michael Roberts went wide. It finished 1-1, and the game
was again a credit to this league. I headed for the exit, and off to the metro
to make it back to Sheffield as early as possible. As I left the ground I heard
a kid (presumably on the full ground-hop) say to a friend – ‘I think this is my
second favourite ground this weekend’. I wonder what the first was!
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