Heritage Park is a smashing little ground. It's the perfect venue for non league football. When Bishop's left their 100 year old ramshackle Kingsway at the turn of the millennium, it spelled a decade in exile. Shildon's Dean Street. West Auckland's Darlington Road. Both shit holes. Spennymoor's Brewery Field. Home of their fiercest rivals. Finally funds were raised and Heritage Park became reality and their new home in 2010.
It's only been some 8 months since I saw BAFC play Pools in a friendly, but now some Mechano style seated stands are now in place behind one of the goals (no doubt for increased gates for when Darlo play their home games there) where before it was a grassy knoll. So adding that to the main stand and the Town End style covered terrace behind the other goal, you've got a non league ground many cloth capped auld codger's from Consett, Bedlington and Dunston will be envious of. Hell even I'm jealous as a part time Durham fan, and their ground is smart.
My mate is a City fan and as it was his birthday, it made sense to take in this away fixture. I saw City play uni Team Northumbria back in Feb and it was dreggy so I was fearing the worst. But no, this was an enjoyable spectacle between to firm but fair sides, who both enjoyed a mix of on the deck and short direct balls down the wings. They cancelled each other out in the first half, despite both hitting the bar. HT 0-0.
Enjoyed some birthday cake at half time (there's a first for me at football), swilling poor tea and cursing the cold (It's nearly May for fucks sake). The second half carried on much like the first, but really came to life in the last 20 odd minutes. 71 mins in Bishops played a great ball through the middle and the 'Two Blues' pinpoint pass split the City back line like the Red Sea, allowing Johnson to coolly slot home in front of the home terrace. City had been on top too...
So it wasn't a surprise when they equalised. Well, it was from the penalty spot. Five minutes from time Raitt charged down a shot in the area with his arms. A great brave save. Only problem was he wasn't the keeper. Former Leeds United midfielder Ollie Hotchkiss stroked it home and his fog horn leg horn (but mainly fog horn) brother in the away ranks went up a couple of decibels.
We'd take a point we said. The players wouldn't. 88 mins and a corner hung in the air like Ben Dover. A primary school kick it kick it ensued in the box until Baitey stabbed it in for 2-1. Cue pandimonium for literally dozens of City fans.
But the Citizens weren't done there. With 91 minutes on the clock a long ball forward to hustling and bustling Ian Ward, he used his strength to turn is man as the ball looped over him, drew the keeper and let the bounce do the work, lifting it over the custodian and it dropped in just below the bar. Cue outstretched flying celebration. And fuck me he's coming this way. Wardy rushes over to me and my mate on the touchline and we're locked in a cold sweaty embrace as more City lads join in. Happy birthday mate.
Bishies got a even later consolation with virtually the last kick of the game. 3-2 City. Last game of the season and it left us wanting more.
