Finally - it's over. A season which turned from of great promise but turned into what can only be described as a reet mess. The Black Cats took on the Owls and ended a season we're mostly glad to see the back of by kicking off at the stupid time of 12:30 and put in a performance that was an insult to the memories of both Derek Forster Charlie Hurley. At least we made half of Sheffield very happy.
One of the highlights of the last week was Bishop Auckland FC's Sporting Memories session - this time with David Hodgson, who provided another name for a former manager. Lawrie Myenemy - can you guess the real name? Let's just say I didn't think anyone had a lower opinion of that manager than me, but Hodgy certainly has. Great raconteur, who's been invited back to finish his story.
Hard on the heels of Charlie Hurley"s passing came the sad news that Derek Forster, our youngest ever player, had also left us. A keeper in the first team aged only 15 years and 185 days, he was Monty's understudy for nine years, making 19 competitive appearances, before moving to Charlton and Brighton. Back home, he kept goal for Consett, Blyth, Evenwood, and North Shields before retiring. Another sad loss for the Sunderland family - RIP, Derek.
Naturally, Charlie Hurley was the subject of many conversations on the way through and around the city - the man, the magic, the memories - and the club celebrated his life in fitting style, if any style could befit The King.
Bishuuurrrp
Hume O'Nien Ballard Alese
Ekwah Styles
Roberts Bellingham Aouchiche Clarke
..and a bench of Patterson, Rigg, Watson, Ba, Dack, Pembele, Hemir, Mundle, and Evans. A bit of a shame for Patto, as it ended his ever-present league run. We faced south in our one-off white shorts and Wednesday kicked off with the noisy visiting fans screaming for safety. We allegedly had Jobe and Adil up top but you'd be pushed notice as one turned back at every opportunity and the other is of a size that central defenders laugh at.
We had a decent-ish spell of pressure around 14 minutes but Roberts fired into the scoreboard. Five minutes later they broke down our right and fired through Bishuuurrrp's legs but the angle was so narrow that it went right to the far side. We did get the ball in the net on 24 when a free was headed in, but we were offside.
Having had, according to Wednesday fans, a poor season, Barry Bannon was ripping us to bits without moving and threaded one through on 28 for it to be passed between Bishuuurrrp's legs again for 0-1. Five minutes later Clarke cut across and fired one against the far post before we had another shot blocked and Styles fired wide.
On 37 they came down their right and crossed for it to be walloped high into the net. Bugger. Roberts shot high again, then there were five added minutes as we were caught offside but missed the target anyway. There'd been no pressure on the centre halves, and we ended the half with an Adil shot that went for a corner. In summary, we'd created four chances and fluffed them all, while they'd created three and scored two of them.
After some words from Monty, Toddo, and Richie Pitt, as the Hurley montage was shown in the big screen (summat in my eye, honest) we actually made two changes for the second half as Evans and Rigg replaced Styles and Roberts. Two minutes on Clarke crossed for Adil to head wide at the back post, then Alese was booked for a daft foul.
Rigg belted down the right, but when he looked up neither Adil or Jobe had bothered to get into the box. What a waste, as was Clarke's volley over the top soon after. He almost made up for it with a ball through the middle but the defenders got there first. All of a sudden we were briefly brighter, with their keeper palming away two shots in as many minutes before Evans shot into the visiting fans.
With twenty to go, Ba replaced Ekwah, with Rigg moving central, but Ba's first real contribution was a shot so sliced that it went for a throw five yards up the pitch. Alese then made way for Hemir - a forward at last!- then Watson was on for Clarke, who received a standing ovation as he left our pitch for probably the last time.
We had the 87th minute applause for Charlie, four added minutes were announced and Ba bobbled a volley wide from Watson's cross. The visiting fans justifiably went ballistic at the final whistle, and good luck to them.
Sixteenth place cannot in any way be described as a decent season, and today's showing was evidence of everything that's wrong with our team and who's picking it (Speakman, not Dodds, although the latter isn't helping himself). Watson for Clarke? There's your ready-made replacement, he's got first team experience (now).
Anyway, it's all over for a few months. Man of the Match? Evans, purely because he showed one of the things we've missed all season.
