Gavin Ellis and the season when time stood still -- part 6
By Ray Simpson
More from the Darlo poet
Here's some more prose from Gavin, looking back against our games against Blyth, Gloucester and our FA Cup run
GRUDGE MATCH
A home game with Blyth Spartans is our first game in September
Alun Armstrong gave their fans some great times to remember
He’s now rebuilding Quakers with several ex-Blyth stars
His ex-club in Northumberland have some documented scars
Typical of Darlington our defence again is kind
We’re caught out by a through ball and go one-nil behind
But Campbell strikes one hard and low to swiftly equalise
The Quakers have some fight at last, we start to realise
As the game enters its twilight and the game remains all square
We badly need a hero – to shoot from anywhere
Andy just when poor Blyth Spartans think they’ve gained a point
A Stephen Thompson wonder goal livens up the joint
GO WEST
With an injury list that’s ten miles long the team still show desire
The fans travel to Evesham, too, hoping to inspire
The Gloucester side for several years has had to move around
Has weather and severe floods washed away their ground
Two struggling sides are on the pitch and fail to entertain
The keeper and Tyrone collide, he’s subbed concussed in pain
The Gloucester side go one nil up, but Campbell pulls one back
Let’s have a better second half, will either team attack?
We lose again, a random shot takes a harsh and fluke deflection
Yet again our heads go down in total-felt dejection
Another loss upon the road, another long trip home awaiting
We must win on our travels soon, these losses are deflating
THREE WINS ON THE ROAD
We lose two-nil at home to York, who are probably going up
Next we’re off to Manchester in the FA Cup
We play a team called Trafford in the scorching North West sun
At last we win a cup game comfortably three-one
Next we go to Alfreton, we concede early on to a team who have small crowds
It isn’t any wonder they play hoofball in the clouds
We come out in the second half and play them off the ground
Tyrone and Justin Donawa secure a two-one win quite sound
We were hoping for a home draw in the FA Cup, so pity
We travel down to Leamington in England’s second city
We win two-nil, three wins away it feels like football heaven
Our best run in the FA Cup since the year 2011