He's Deflagged

Hall Road Rangers 0 v Hallam 2 

Northern Counties East Football League 

Division One 

Monday 3 January 2022 

Hall Road Rangers, Haworth Park was Tick 379. The 379th ground I've visited and seen a game on. Lovely & rudimentary. Quite a large upstairs pavilion bar with a balcony overlooking the pitch. Only industrial beers mind, so not much interest.

Instead, we availed of Hull. 

The Whalebone

165 Wincolmlee, Hull HU2 0PA

One thing you must be told about The Whalebone is … no matter what time, day, season you descend on it, there'll be a least half a dozen in. Still as mad as ever. Everything around it has basically gone over the decades. But it still stands out like a beacon.

Seven on Cask. I went;

Half Moon Brewery, Dark Masquerade, (Dark Mild), on Cask at 3.6%

That looked great in the glass, with a superb Werther's Original coloured head. There was lots of malty, nutty flavour - and the flavours stayed for a linger. 3.75/5

Bristol Beer Factory, Espresso Dubs, part of their Dubs Mini Stout Series, this one Double Coffee Milk Stout, on Cask at 5.5%

Man. Coffee. Then some. No stinting. Not my usual ting I'm saying. But, I thoroughly enjoyed it. As you'd imagine, the coffee cuts through any sweetness that might be doing the rounds. Full on. 3.75/5

Afterwards, we made the long schlep back to the marina to;

The Minerva Hotel

Nelson St, Hull HU1 1XE

First time for me. Sprawling, many roomed place. One of the rooms only had space for one table and two chairs. I counted five on Cask. I'm afraid the beer notes weren't collated in The Minerva. The Carrier Bag Firm were deeply sidetracked into a conversation with a neighbour. A New Zealander of Samoan Heritage. Who, back in the day, had been headhunted into Sheffield Eagles Rugby League system. And who now lives in Halfway & was drinking in Kingston upon. Well. You would get sidetracked by that, wouldn't you?

I went;

Allendale Brewery Co, Hop On, Gluten Free IPA on Cask at 4.7%

Vocation Brewery, Heart & Soul, Session IPA on Cask at 4.4%

I rated 'em both at 3.75/5. All of which makes for a great beer day, but Even Stevens on the scores.

I'm getting drawn in now. I was even Twitter Checking the North Ferriby score in the hope Hallam would remain top of Div One. (Spoiler - they did). Not a great deal of conventional quality. The more I see, the more I feel Hallam's game plan is just to have quality strikers. Eventually, they will strike. 

The Hallam opener on 40 was an odd affair. The linesman flagged offside in the build up. I had a good view of the Ref. He waved & shouted play on & did a point to summat. And. Naturally. The ball fell loose and Kieren Watson scored. There were some protests by the Hall Roaders. In fact, I'm surprised they didn't go garrity. Some accusations being thrown around among the spectators that the linesman had put his flag up, and then pulled it down. That's not how I had it. He deflagged because the Ref waved it on.

Iren Wilson sewed it up 82.

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