Our non-league football columnist PAUL DIXON runs down his top five moments of the season
So much for that lie down...
It was an incredible season for non-league football in the North.
And now it’s all pretty much over, I’ve picked out my top five games of a wonderful, whirlwind of a campaign.
See if you agree with me...
1. GATESHEAD 3 TORQUAY UNITED 1
Vanarama Premier, Saturday, August 9, 2014
The first day of the Conference season and, after last May’s Wembley heartache, a convincing win for Gateshead against newly-relegated Torquay.
Not only that, but a performance from Marcus Maddison the like of which I feel we may not see again.
I thoroughly enjoyed his all-round play, and an outstanding goal to boot. Not long after that he joined Peterborough United for £250,000.
If only it had set the tone for the rest of the Heed’s season.
2. NORTH SHIELDS 4 SCARBOROUGH ATHLETIC 4 (AET, Scarborough won 4-2 on penalties)
FA Cup Preliminary Round Replay, Wednesday, September 3, 2014
An incredible game, unbelievable. Had everything.
Eight goals, a couple of sendings off and missed penalties even before the shoot-out. High tempo, passion and terrific desire to win by both teams.
That night I could see Shields had something special about them, and when I enjoyed tea and scones with Graham Fenton and Andy Bowman at Tynemouth’s Grand Hotel four days later, I told them!
Told them they’d reach, at least, the last four of the FA Vase, as well. But more of that later...
For me, this was the best game I saw all season.
3. HARTLEPOOL UNITED 1 BLYTH SPARTANS 2 FA Cup Second Round, Friday, December 5, 2014
On a cold winter’s evening down at Hartlepool we were warmed up immensely when Blyth Spartans took the scalp of Hartlepool. Two tremendous goals, the first by Stephen Turnbull and the winner by Jarrett Rivers, who got the whole nation out of their seats as they watched the game live on the BBC.
Lovely to see Jarrett’s gone on to sign for Blackpool. Good luck lad.
A fantastic night, Tom Wade’s boys were brilliant.
4. HEANOR TOWN 0 DUNSTON UTS 1FA Vase Fourth Round, Saturday, January 17, 2015
Another freezing winter’s day, this time at Heanor, in Derbyshire. The pitch was knee-deep in mud, leaving the two teams to slug it out like gladiators. What a battle!
It was a terrific advert for the FA Vase, and for Dunston’s never-say-die spirit, with Billy Irwin’s men coming out on top thanks to a goal from who else but Andrew Bulford?
5. GLOSSOP NORTH END 1 NORTH SHIELDS 2 (AET) FA Vase Final , Saturday, May 9, 2015
So, finally, my main highlight of a terrific season...well, it could hardly be anything else, could it?
Yet another winning weekend – after last season’s double heartache – at Wembley, where 5000 Robins fans travelled south.
With 10 minutes left, things didn’t look good.
Then, up stepped Gareth Bainbridge with his usual goal, to set up the heroics for little Adam Forster after a brilliant run and cross from Denver Morris, who was unquestionably man-of-the-match.
Have they come down to Earth yet? I know I haven’t.
But I do now really need that lie down . . .
