Heritage Park Saturday, April 27th, 2013   Northern League Division One Attendance: 1,986         Darlington 3-1 Team Northumbria
2012 /13

Comments :

Managed to order a ticket over the phone just as the news came out that the match was in doubt due to a waterlogged pitch. Luckily volunteers were able to drain the excess and the match was declared on just as I got on the bus. 2 hours later I was in Bishop, and off on my way to the ground. Once there, I had just enough time wolf down a cheeseburger before kick-off. Thought it was a bit expensive for the size of it, but needs are as needs much. I'd taken my proper camera down for the game to take some decent photos since there was a strong likelihood we would be crowned Northern League Champions today. Unfortunately after one photo the batteries died (as they are wont to do). The atmosphere was literally bouncing throughout, I was stood at the Tin Shed end for the first time and I'll certainly be wanting to stand at that end again. There was chanting throughout the game, and it was possible to keep tabs on the Spennymoor score by what they were chanting. For a time, it seemed we'd be crowned champions by virtue of Spenny getting beat, as Darlo found it difficult to challenge Northumbria's keeper despite having the lions share of the possession. Then, just before half time, and with only their second shot of the game, Team Northumbria found the net. It was a slightly surreal experience, as a stunned silence descended over Heritage Park. I'm not sure if Team Northumbria even brought any fans. If they had, they weren't very vocal about taking the lead against the champions-elect. By contrast, Darlington's equaliser a moment later was greeted with an eruption of cheers and applause across the ground. For the second half, I chose to stay where I was rather than try and get a spot at the end Darlo were kicking towards, so I didn't get a very good view of play. Suffice to say Amar Purewal scored Darlo's second, with Jonny Davis sealing the deal with an injury time winner. Sadly some idiots took this as the cue to mount a pitch invasion, despite the fact the referee was yet to blow the final whistle. They quickly returned to behind the goal, and after a few more false starts whenever the referee blew his whistle a mass pitch invasion ensued when time was called. I'm not a fan of pitch invasions, and the sight of the officials and players having to hurry from the pitch took something of the shine off things. The fact that people were on the pitch prevented the players from doing a lap of honour, and when they did come back out to take the applause it was impossible to see them unless you were in the main stand, or on the pitch. It's a shame really.