RUNNING MONKEY sees some familiar faces


Gateshead F.C. 0 - 1 Wrexham F.C. at the Vic

Due drainage to problems at the Gateshead stadium the team were tired of playing continuous away games, so they came to Hartlepool to play Wrexham. There was a good turnout of fans from both sides that were seated at either end of the CK stand. 

My loyalties were split, as I wanted to support the home team yet the old stager Chris Westwood was turning out for the visitors. Watching Westy warm up, he looked to be in good shape and still has the locks. He had possibly the best chance of the game for them winning a header from a corner that just skimmed the post. 

"Brownie played the full game at centre forward, but at a different pace to what we were used to when he was fit"They are the form team in the division and are getting crowds of three and a half thousand for home games. There were a few names in the side we all should remember: Steven Wright, who did a short spell for Pools is still a hard tackling full back, Brett Ormerod of Blackpool fame, and Glen Little who played at a high level. 
The home team was like a Who's Who of ex-Poolies: Brownie played the full game at centre forward, but at a different pace to what we were used to when he was fit, and he did scuff a sitter wide late in the game that would have given them a point. Phil Turnbull, one of the twins, had a good game in midfield.  We all remember the Toon loanee Ryan Donaldson - well he has not improved his temper, which gets in the way of his football, and he put one over the Town End with only the keeper to beat. 

Ben Clark stamps round his old stamping ground
Ben Clark came on as a late sub for the home team but like some of the old stagers they know how to conserve their energy. One kid I was impressed with was the ex Darlo player Chandler. He was all over the pitch breaking up play and charging forward. What he lacked in height he made up for in grit. The home fans were in great voice, which lasted till the second half when they went a goal down. Some great chants and a few renditions of God Save the Queen belted out to the Welsh visitors. The usual sheep taunts and "You're Welsh and You Know You Are" aimed at the subs as they warmed up. 

"Your Hat's Too Big" even had the sub laughing. "When the ‘HEID’ Go Marching In" was a favourite, but playing away but playing at home was a good shout. By late in the game it was so far out of tune probably due to the local water served at the Vic. 

One luckless Wrexham player called the ref over to say he had been hit on the head by an object only for the ref to laugh it off as it was a piece of chuddy. So six defeats on the trot for the luckless Gateshead who have another seven games to play at the Vic, It depends on the opposition as to whether I return.