Don't mention the 'T' word.

Barry C reports.

As is customary on reserve trips (when shifts allow) my good lady wife accompanied me up to Durham. Now that’s what I call showing a girl a good time on St Valentines day LFC Res v Sunderland Res with 1,251 other hardy souls. Getting up there a bit early we embarked on a slightly unusual pre-match routine. Now how many of you have actually spent an hour looking around a cathedral before a match? Comparing that to a bevy and a singsong in the Albert I have to say the pub wins every time.

Our ecclesiastical pursuits over we got up to New Ferens Park about ten past six for a Seven O’clock kick off. The modern ground, Durham City’s fifth in their history, is on an industrial estate on the outskirts of the city. We found it with ease after a quick call to Sunderland AFC’s switchboard earlier in the day provided the directions. The first thing that we came across on the approach were hoards of ‘No Parking’ cones. OK they won the Reserve league last year but the crowds can’t be that big. Turning into the ‘stadium’ approach £1 to park on a muddy field explained the situation. Obviously hosting Sunderland PLC with PLC attitudes has rubbed off on tiny Durham City.

Just as we got there the LFC team coach arrived, Sammy Lee, Ron Yeats and Joe Corrigan on-board. As the lads got off the first team faces were noticeable by their absence and only Stig had any ‘prem’ experience to speak of. With the first team friendly at Bournemouth on Wednesday I’ve a feeling reserve regulars Murphy, Staunton, Newby etc will be playing in that. "I’ll be happy with a draw" was my first thought. A look at the team sheets confirmed this as Sunderland fielded a strong looking side Williams, Holloway, Rae, Reddy and Oster with first team experience.

Anyway Durham’s is a tidy little ground with a 300 or so seater stand. A bar underneath it serves good Guinness with one of the barmaids an LFC fan having spent 15 years living in the city. The locals informed me they normally get around 3000 for reserve games. Into the ground and GH appeared in the stand above us with his usual reserve gear on. A brown full-length brown leather, probably bought from ‘this guy he knows on Lark Lane’ and lifted from Cream cloakroom the night before.

The match itself saw LFC succumb to a bigger, stronger, wiser Sunderland side that were doubtless seeking revenge for the 4-0 battering at St Helens earlier this season when GH put the first team out. Alex Rae ran the show for Sunderland with Michael Reddy (19 in 17 games for the reserves I was told) getting one in each half. A lighthouse in disguise, Kevin Kyle scored Sunderland’s other. Sunderland had a player sent off for a second bookable with 5 minutes left and their keeper should have walked midway through the second half when he brought down Partridge OUTSIDE the area. The booking and tame free kick hardly seeming like justice for the offence, but when have LFC and justice ever been used in the same sentence apart from by us.

With the unbeaten millstone removed from around their necks I confidently predict we’ll go on and lift the Ti (shit, no there I go again). Best LFC players on the night were probably Richie P who was always keen to have a go from limited chances and my MOM for us Layton Maxwell who ran himself to a standstill. Alan Navarro was taught a lesson or two by MOM and Mackem skipper Alex Rae.

So back down the A1 after the match and time to contemplate the meaning of life listening to a best of the 80’s tape. What exactly does ‘da diddily qua qua’ mean? Answers on a postcard to RAOTL, Adam and the Ants Competition, Loughborough.

The Reds next reserve game at home (St Helens) to Barnsley next Monday 21^st Feb when a strong team should be fielded given the lack of first team action.

Block 106 Row 22 Seat 69 (Barry C)