Gavin Ellis -- The season when time stood still part 4
By Ray Simpson
More from the Darlo poet
Gavin Ellis has put together some prose about the 2019-20 season -- here's part 4 covering the games against Southport and Altrincham.
OLD GOLD IN THE SUN
Today’s opponents Southport have not been beat in four
We hope we can despatch them in the Blackwell Meadows glow
We’ve signed a brand new striker from Middlesbrough on loan
He looks as if he’s six foot tall, we’re told he’s called Tyrone
Both corresponding games last season ended up nil-nil
Let’s hope today is different and the match is one to thrill
Four minutes in and Tyrone strikes, The Quakers lead one-nil
A controversial penalty sees Southport lose their will
Adam Campbell slots it in, The Sandgrounders are distraught
Although they pile on pressure in a second half onslaught
The game reaches conclusion in the glaring August heat
A vital three points in the bag and a second home clean sheet
A STITCH IN TIME
We head off down to Altrincham on the league’s fourth Saturday
Moss Lane is a ground were we always draw away
With no points on our travels we dare not lose again
Our cause is helped on half an hour with the hosts reduced to ten
But the ten men take the lead, it’s Jordan Hulme for Alty
He heads in from a corner, our defending still seems faulty
With time fast running out the hosts lose Stephen Drench
An outfield player goes in goal with no sub on the bench
So can the hosts still hold the lead whilst running out of time
They scythe down Justin Donawa sprinting down the line
Adam Campbell takes the ball and puts it on the floor
And then curls in from twenty yards to secure a last-gasp draw