Alnwick Town got back to league action last night in a bizarre and controversial encounter. The game was played at Greensfield on the 4G pitch which is on just fifty yards from where I live so I could have watched the game from the warmth of the WBP nerve centre (or bedroom). However I decided to to make the two minutes walk to the ground and get closer to the action. I arrived what should have been five minutes after kick off but although Alnwick were on the pitch and so were the match officials there was no sign of the visitors Hebburn Town Reserves. After about fifteen to twenty minutes they did show and the game kicked off. The first half was a tepid affair until Hebburn surprisingly took the lead when a fine through ball was not dealt with and echoes of last week cup defeat re surfaced. Fortunately for Alnwick Hebburn did not look to extend their lead but started to adopt a much more physical approach. Tackles starting flying in and eventually they were down to ten men. The offending player was not too chuffed when he left and was congratulated on his challenge. There were four letters in his response and we were left in no doubt he was a bit miffed. After the break Alnwick continued to chip away at the tiring Hebburn defence and after the evergreen Laws was introduced from the bench they started to panic. Two goals from Potts saw Alnwick take a deserved lead and it looked like they would rescue there points and go to second place in the table. However after four minutes of injury time had been played and with less than a minute to go the lights went out. Supporters in the car park optimistically switched their car headlights but to no avail and the ref abandoned the game. It was reported that the lights were on a timer to go off at ten o'clock obviously not to distract the local residents (that must be me). They did however appear go out ten minutes early but on the other hand Hebburn were nearly twenty minutes late to start the game and during it they engaged in a lot of game management when they were in the lead which lead to to the extended injury time. It will be probably up to the league to decide if the game is to be replayed or they may let the score remain.
However the chaotic and bizarre ending to the game could not hide that Alnwick have a few issues probably around confidence at present and if they are to win the league they will will need to improve!