Premier League
Sunday 12 November 2023
SUFC 2023/24 Game #24
Hallam 3 v Silsden 0
Northern Counties East League, Premier (Step 5)
Tuesday 14 November 2023
Eccleshill United 3 v Maltby Main 0
Northern Counties East League, Premier (Step 5)
Wednesday 15 November 2023
Ground Tick #458
Brighton
Simple thing innit? Even though you're struggling. Even though you're not playing well. At one nil, you're still in the game. The Carrier Bag Firm celebrated that point on the concourse (in the hope the queues for the trains would die down. Narrator - they didn't) with the pictured pint;
Harvey's Brewery (Lewes), Sussex Best, Bitter on Cask at 4%
In general, I love Harvey's beers. Long established recipes, using proper English ingredients. Water filtered through the Sussex Downs (a bit pompous, but I'll give ‘em that). And their own 60 year old yeast strain.
Earlier in the day, we'd had a Good Beer, Bad Barman incident at the John Harvey Tavern in Lewes. That's essentially Harvey's brewery tap, down a street opposite the brewery. Six real ales on. Including Sussex Best always on Gravity.
Harvey's, Armada Ale, Golden Ale on Cask at 4.5%
That was glorious. Pump clip says Dry Hopped. A good bit of hay & grass on it. It tasted packed with hops. Served by a very friendly and welcoming barman.
And. Then. I went back for the next ‘un on the list. Different barman. He's got his back to the customers (ie me). He's a-pfaffing an’ a-fiddlin’ on his phone. Eventually he turns around. I order the next beer. He selects a pristine glass off the rack. Picks up a half filled glass of beer off the shelf under the bar and pours that beer into my clean glass. For the avoidance of doubt, he's not pulled my beer fresh from the pump, he's recycling one from another glass.
“Where's that one come from mate?”
“(flustered) From the cellar…”
“Right, I'll have a fresh one. From the pump. Please.”
“I've literally only just poured that one into this other glass.”
“Oh right. Why did you do that then if no one had ordered it?”
“I've literally just pulled it into this other glass.”
“Let's make sure we're not at cross purposes. I've ordered a beer. You've just poured that beer from one glass into another glass. And you're about to charge me for it. That's what has happened. Right? Because if that's happened. I'll have a fresh one from the pump.”
“Alright mate. I've literally just pulled it.”
At this point. Despite the fact that it's a great pub. Serving great beer. The customer mutters a silent - Fuck Off. And fucks off. Poor.
Hallam
You knows what beer I've had up at Sandygate. Currently, the best Footie Beer on the Island.
SALT, Loom, Pale Ale on Keg at a Footie Friendly Four
In the second half, my Carrier Bag Firm comrade noticed and mentioned that the fella in front was swigging from a can. She was curious as to its contents.
“Ask him, it's non-league, you can fucking ask anyone owt at non-league. From the artwork it looks to me like either Brew York or Northern Monk.”
Matey shows us the can. Engages in dialogue about where he bought it. And what sort of beers he likes and usually drinks. This is what we go to school for. Turns out it's;
Vocation Brewery, Tuscan Truffle, Espresso Martini Tiramisu Imperial Stout at 10%.
Fuck Sake mate. That is deffo NOT a footie beer. The Carrier Bag Firm salute you.
A rather disappointing 312 up the hill. But, it was a shocking night. A great win for The Countrymen. Three wins on the bounce in the league. Unbeaten in four in the league. Currently eighth in the table. One point behind opponents Silsden. And, in touch with the play offs.
Hallam opened it on just 2 minutes. A deep header from a corner. Begat a second header into the six yard. Nathan Cartman controlling it, spinning and knocking it home.
On 15, a hang it up there for the big lad corner, a right on his noggin header, a yard(ish) above his marker, and Dan Burns made it two. A header so timeless, I've had to nick the photo off Twitter.
Once a Blade, always a Blade Hugo Warhurst kept Hallam in it with a number of excellent saves. I was amazed he wasn't named MoM. But, let me say unequivocally, I'm biased. Hugo saves a lot of shots with his legs and feet. That's because he keeps his eye on the ball, and uses everything he's got to form an impenetrable barrier, if you get a shot off, it'll hit him. Great to watch.
Hallam made it three nil on 56. Matthews jinked past defenders wide right. Pulled it back from the line. Calum Ward knocked it home.
There was utter madness on 85. Silsden had their chances. Hugo did his stuff. And suddenly, the Hallam bench exploded. Mainly at the nearest lino. Some bad fucking language I can tell you.
From what I could make out, Hallam players had asked the officials - how long added on. The message got passed around on the wind. When it was relayed to the bench, we were in - send three & fourpence we're going to a dance - territory.
“Lino, lino, where the fuck have you got seventeen minutes from?”
All. Hell. Loose.
A marvelous bit of reffing in the face of abuse. Calmly explained they'd misunderstood and it was Seven Minutes. Upon which information they sat sheepishly. Classic.
Eccleshill United
Gratuitous 458th ground tick, no beer visit to wherever that is.
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