Trinity Catholic College 6 V Unity City Academy 1
Stockton, Dixon, McMahon, Carey, Martin (2)
Venue Southlands Centre, Middlesbrough
Crowd 74
Trinity Team, Saxton, Powner, Allen, Mitchinson, Chisholm, Stockton, Guy, McMahon, Robinson, Dixon, Connolly
Subs, Carey, Martin.

Now here at The Northern Line we tend to steer away from football but recently we have had second thoughts. How can we cover Northern Culture and not include the biggest thing that goes on in the North? We recently covered the exhibition at The Dormans Museum of Middlesbrough memoribilia and today we are covering our first match. Celtic V Rangers? Newcastle V Sunderland? Liverpool V Man Utd? No, Trinity Catholic College V Unity City Academy. School boys, I hear you cry! No, worse, teachers!!!
Both these schools are in the sunny hamlet of Middlesbrough. Trinity Catholic College (Trinity) is situated in the leafy suburbs of Saltersgill, whilst Unity City Academy (UCA) is situated to the East of the town centre. There is a bit of history between the two. Last season UCA won a tight match played at Trinitys old Hall Drive ground. Tonights was at the Southlands Centre. Played on the brand new artificial surface, which all agreed, is outstanding. Trinity arrived in their splendid green and white hoops. Would a Catholic school play in anything else?

A tight game was envisaged but after 15 minutes those thoughts were blown away. Trinity were 2-0 up and it was begining to look like a rout. Goals from the mercurial Stockton and a “meant” knee-er from man mountain Dixon. And a definite penalty given away by Myers but not seen by the referee meant it could/should have been 3-0. But things did not quite work out like that and by half-time the score was still 2-0. The Trinity defence having to cope with most of the pressure. Chisholm diving into tackles on the right and Powner, the Paul Madeley of Trinity, coping with everything on the left. Allen and Mitchinson commanding the centre of defence like a good cop, bad cop, tag team. Experienced geographer and part-time goalkeeper Saxton had very little to do.
The second half began as a tight affair with both teams creating chances. Connolly having his own personal game of “how many chances can one man miss in a match?” The expressions “barn door” “banjo” “bulls backside” “could not hit” spring to mind. As a striker he makes a great opening batsman. Then it was down to McMahon to show Connolly how it is done. 3-0 up, game over? Not quite. Trinity bring back Mitchinson to replace prospective Man of the Match Allen. Almost immediately it is 3-1. But as quickly as that happened Trinity restore their 3 goal adavantage when super-sub Martin pokes in from 2 yards. Varyingly described as David Fairclough, Micky Quinn, Allan Clarke, Paul Dickov or that lazy so and so. He does not run much but give him the ball and he will score!!!
From then on its all Trinity. A superb 12 yard volley from Carey makes it 5-1. Proving that fat, bald men can score! Then Martin does it again. Latching on to a superb through ball from Robinson he slots it home from the edge of the area. Making it 5 goals in 2 appearances. There is still time for him to have an audacious “Pele-esque” lob from the centre circle which hits the bar. The fact he is miles offside is just an after thought.
A great team performance from the “best school in Boro”. Man of the Match? Guy. Never stops running, never loses the ball, never stops smiling. Who needs Miller when we have Guy? Actually Miller might be needed next game to drive the bus or help Spence with the hot-dogs!!!
A big thanks to the staff at UCA for putting on the game. Hopefully we will have a re-match soon.
Afterwards a celebratory round of orange juices were supped at the Rudds. Supporters mixing with players like it was the 1950s. None of that prima-donna malarkey from these boys!!!!!
Next up? Who knows? Sheff Wed V Sheff Utd, Hibs V Hearts, Blyth Power Station V Cambois Colliery!! Anything is possible here at The Northern Line.

By peter on March 5, 2012