The Lads braved the remnants of Storm Ashley (windy and smells of lager) to nip down the A19 and, with yesterday's results having done us no real harm positionally, Issy's second half gallop and clip put us back at the top. Marvellous.
Big talking points from SR5 in the yonks since our last game have been Riggy's goal of the month award, the arrival of Reggie's right-hand man Pedro Ribeiro, and Aaron Connolly's brutally honest interview. With him being ex-Hull, the Durham bus wondered if he'd a point to prove. I also revealed that I'd sung It Must Be Love, along with the rest of the audience at the Customs House, Shields, as Jeff Brown off the telly played ukulele. That was the finale of him and Ian Payne talking through their TV careers - well worth a look next time it's on.
We were up Brighton early (thanks, Con) to land in a damp and breezy Humberside in time to take cocktails and be offered decidedly dodgy toiletries in the pub by a lady scratter. We declined, far more politely than the locals - who reckoned that if we keep Connolly fit, we've got a cracker...and we met Hull's only Poolie behind the next bar, as well as Jack from Stockton. "Why don't you support the Smoggies?" the locals asked him. Obvious, we replied.
Patto
Hume Mepham O'Nien Cirkin
Neil (c) Bellingham
Roberts Rigg Mundle
Isidor
...and a bench of Moore, Hjelde, Connolly, Browne, Aouchiche, Aleksic, Watson, Johnson, and Rusyn. Not a bad line up, not a bad bench. ...but would 'Ull try Burstow at any stage?
Don't care.
Windy and wet, our seats in row D(3rd from the front) were most definitely on the splash zone, so sitting wasn't really an option. In our natty third strip, we lined up attacking the far end and they kicked off as they heavy mizzle thankfully abated, the sun emerged to shine in the righteous and for some reason the PA belted out Wise Men Say. We'll take that for starters.
We had the majority of the early possession, but whenever we broke, Hull gave up on forward play and they all dropped into defence, which made things a bit frustrating.
After Hull messed up a great break, we produced a period of fannying about at the back when a proper lowse was needed, and then had to thank Mepham, who'd already shown his defensive class and passing ability, for a tackle Martin Harvey would have applauded on 26.
After a decent passing move on 43, Jobe dragged his low shot a foot wide of the keeper's right hand post - about time we just pulled the trigger. After vain shouts for a penalty when Mepham pointed to Patto as the ball flew part his arm, barely a second of added time was played. After a very positive start we'd allowed the home side the opportunity to create probably three scoring chances but, thankfully, they passed up every one with bad decisions. Still, no saves for Patto to make so I can't grumble.
No changes for the second half apart from in Hull's attitude, which became much more positive and got them the upper hand after five minutes or so. Still, with Mepham getting in the way of everything that O'Nien didn't there was nowt for Patto to do until a routine low collect probably should have counted as a save.
Having drawn the sting from the Tigers by the hour, we passed it around nicely to set up Roberts, but there were too many defenders and the shot was blocked. This was followed by a Cirkin tackle that became a rebound that I thought Patto tipped over - whatever, it was a Hull corner that we cleared to Issy, who set off on a fifty yard sprint. With a defender virtually hanging off him, he galloped into the box and clipped it delicately over the keeper to howls of delight from the way section. Tremendous goal that he barely had the energy to celebrate - for a while. He combined the eventual celebrations with a signal to the bench that indicated he had ten minutes left in the tank.
28 minutes to the whistle? No problem!
With our fans in joyous mood, we pinged it about for those ten minutes before Connolly came on, immediately being the subject of some hefty challenges that won us a handful of free kicks. Which was nice. With ten to go, Roberts found Rigg, who got it to Mundle out wide, and his cross to the back post was met with a Rigg volley - into the side netting.
Roberts then got into a tussle with their Millar, who'd been a bit of a pest in their left, but his reaction to being hauled down by the shoulders put him in the Richarlison class - rolling around holding his face. Pathetic, really pathetic. Roberts was taken off just in case his yellow led to anything after, with Browne coming on to ensure nothing daft happened on the field either. We kept the ball as close to their goal as we could, they had a chance but blootered it way wide, and there were four added minutes.
We saw them out cleverly, with Mundle taking it to the corner and Browne playing it into space where the home side had to chase it. Then it was done and we were able to sing about having a laugh and being top of the league with Reggie le Bris. A really good win that we had to work hard for, and in which the ref was actually quite decent.
Man of the Match? Some clever midfield stuff from Neil and Bellingham, more of the usual wing madness from Mundle, nice combinations from Roberts and Rigg, and smart chasing up top by Issy. Thunderous tackling by Hume and Cirkin, but the main reason Patto's gloves remained relatively clean was Mepham, who just oozes calmness and class. He gets my vote.
Who's top of the league? Mind, don't look at it until we're ten games in.
I'll give you one guess.
