Being part of Horden this season has been an unbelievable rollercoaster. We started well and had a very promising pre-season with some very big results against established Northern League sides. The start of the season was good and then Browny left to be replaced by Martin Mulcaster. Despite some poor results, it was on the whole reasonably good. Then came all the drama. I can honestly say I’ve never known anything like the response we had through the petition. I remember the first day that it all came out and I was playing 5-a-side at the Sports Domes in Seaton Carew. I remember my phone just buzzing all the time with retweets and people wishing us luck. It was honestly incredible and all of us associated with the club can only thank you for that. Then came the day when the club ‘folded’. I wasn’t actually told about that and only found on the social media. I was absolutely devastated. But a few hours later, I got a call from Norman Stephens saying he was back and asking if I would help out with all that I did anyway (social media, press officer, programme editor and anything else that was needed) and I was more than happy to continue. Since then, it has been hard but we’ve enjoyed every minute of it. The win at Sunderland West End the other week was incredible and to be part of something such as what went on at Stockton Town last Friday was brilliant. Yes, it was a disappointing result and I don’t believe we deserved to lose 6-0 but to be part of a historic day for the people at Stockton Town in front of a crowd of 430 was brilliant. Now, the seasons over and we’re going to finish 6th in what has to be a success. Considering everything that has gone on, 6th is a very good finish. There have been some very disappointing results, not least the 12-0 at Stockton and the 5-0 at Seaham Reserves but that is part of football. Football is a game of ups and downs and that is what we all love about it. It’s honestly been a great season at Horden and I’m thankful to all the lads there. I’ll be back involved next season as we look to develop on this 6th place finish. Tonight was a game against Harton & Westoe. When you look at their squad, you would expect them to be right up there. They have some top players signed on including Adam Curry who is now at Hull City! If they could get their best eleven out, they would be right up there competing at the top end. I’m still trying to catch up with the programmes from Friday night. It’s typical really. They don’t sell out for the Wolviston game and tonight’s game with me having a fair few left and then there is a game (Stockton Town) where we could have sold probably another 150 programmes! As I’ve said before, we would have if we could have but we simply couldn’t print them all. Looking ahead for me, I won’t be doing as many games as the season comes to an end. I won’t be anywhere tomorrow and probably not Friday. I could go to the Durham Trophy Final between Hartlepool FC and Seaham Red Star Reserves but I could do with a bit of studying really! My first exam is next Tuesday! I’ll probably have games on Monday and Wednesday next week but not on the other days and after that, it is just whatever there is as there won’t be much. I see that Sunderland West End are playing Ashbrooke Belford House a week on Monday. I might do that and that’ll lead me right till the end of May just with games in the North East. Then it is the EURO’s in June. Talking of that, we finalised the final part of the journey today. We booked train tickets from Lille to Lens and back for after we get off the Eurostar at Lille. We should arrive at our hotel at around 17:15 their time with the game kicking-off at 21:00. That’ll be just fine. They were £14 each for a return – not bad. I’m actually really looking forward to that now – it is going to be an experience. But, I have a few games still to go before that!

With kick-off at 18:30, the first chance came around four minutes in when a defensive error gifted Harton’s Joe Kerridge a chance but the man who normally plays for Easington Colliery could only drag wide. This showed the intent of a player who could be playing at a much higher level. With five and a half minutes played, Charlie Raby won Horden a corner. However, Jason Jones caught. With seven minutes on the clock, Charlie Raby sent a clever through ball looking to pick out Chris Tarn but it was crucially cut out and cleared. A minute later, Stephen Chapman looked in. Following a good long ball, Chapman brought the ball down but an unfortunate bobble meant his second touch got away from him and went out for a goal-kick. In the 11th minute, good flowing football almost saw Horden break the deadlock. Stephen Chapman found Dan Flounders who played the ball further across to Kieran Campbell. Campbell cut in before sending a low drive which was saved by the legs of Jason Jones. Two minutes later, at the other end, a dangerous Harton & Westoe cross was cleared as far as Shaun Stevens who fired narrowly wide. Two minutes later, another dangerous ball came into the penalty area but this time, Logan Powell couldn’t keep it down and it rolled out for a goal-kick. In the 19th minute, Logan Powell won a free-kick from Ethan Payne. However, once swung into the penalty area, it was headed behind for a goal-kick. But, with the next chance, Harton & Westoe CW took the lead. A ball came into Joe Kerridge who looked offside but the assistant thought otherwise and Ethan Payne brought him down in the penalty area for the referee to point to the spot. After consulting his assistant to make sure his decision was the correct one, the referee confirmed the penalty and Shaun Carroll took responsibility smashing home from the 12 yards.

Horden CW 0-1 Harton & Westoe CW

A Harton & Westoe corner came to nothing in the 27th minute before Horden started to push for an equaliser. Not too long before the half hour mark, a long throw from Stephen Chapman found Charlie Raby but his effort was blocked and a couple of minutes later, Charlie Raby found Chris Tarn but his effort failed to beat the defender. In the 33rd minute, Horden CW thought they had pulled level. Stephen Chapman was played in and the assistant referee kept his flag down. Chapman slotted home but as the ball hit the net, the assistant referee raised his flag for the latest of late calls ruling him offside. However, Horden weren’t too bothered as moments later, they pulled level. A good ball came into Matty Hughes and his cool and collected finish beat Jason Jones to level the score-line.

Horden CW 1-1 Harton & Westoe CW

And, after Stephen Chapman had failed to convert a good chance for the hosts, they took the lead in the 38th minute when a superb ball over the top from Stephen Chapman found Chris Tarn and he raced towards goal before firing home.

Horden CW 2-1 Harton & Westoe CW

But, only a minute later, Harton & Westoe pulled level. A deep free-kick found Donyagha Augustine at the back post and his close-range header beat Ethan Anderson to find the net.

Horden CW 2-2 Harton & Westoe CW

With four minutes of the first half still to play, Harton had Kyle Houshby to thank for keeping them ahead. Stephen Chapman crossed and a header was destined for the bottom corner until Kyle Houshby cleared off the line. In the 43rd minute, Charlie Raby hit a shot which was saved and a minute later, Raby’s through ball for Stephen Chapman was just say cut out. With the first halves final chance, Horden’s Dan Flounders looked to play in Matty Hughes but Jason Jones was quick enough to collect. After 10 seconds of injury time, the referee blew for half-time.

Half-time: Horden CW 2-2 Harton & Westoe CW

Upon kick-off in the second half, it was Horden who created the first chance. Chris Tarn found Stephen Chapman but his effort was saved. Joe Kerridge was allowed to find room for Harton & Westoe on 47 minutes as he was unchallenged but Ethan Anderson did well to save and the resulting free-kick was cleared. As Horden looked to regain their lead, Charlie Raby curled a free-kick not far wide and following a slight quiet period, Matty Hughes did very well to start an attack which eventually ended with Charlie Raby curling narrowly over the crossbar. Dan Flounders sent a teasing cross into the penalty area on 57 minutes but Chris Tarn was just say unable to connect with it. In the 60th minute, a Harton & Westoe ball came over the top and Ethan Anderson came rushing out to handball. Luckily for him, the referee took a common sense approach with it being the final game of the season and only booked the young stopper. The resulting free-kick was fired narrowly wide. Dan Turner skewed wide for Horden in the 62nd minute while a minute later, Matty Hughes dinked a ball in looking for Chris Tarn but Jason Jones did well to collect. After Horden’s first change had seen Jonny Payne take the place of Ethan Payne, Horden deservedly regained their lead with 66 played. It was an immediate response from Jonny Payne as he played a key role in playing in Chris Tarn who made Jason Jones commit to being on the deck before slotting home for his 27th of the season.

Horden CW 3-2 Harton & Westoe CW

With 21 minutes remaining, a Chris Tarn shot destined for the far corner was looking promising for Horden until Stephen Chapman unintentionally blocked his team-mate’s shot. With 19 left, Horden could have doubled their lead. A Paul Moss long ball was flicked on by Stephen Chapman to play Chris Tarn in. But, he one-on-one while being pulled back and could only stab wide. And, Horden would be left to pay for this as the visitors pulled level again on 72 minutes as Joe Kerridge was played in and the former Newcastle United man took it round the ‘keeper before slotting home.

Horden CW 3-3 Harton & Westoe CW

From this point on, Horden were dominant. Chris Tarn played in Matty Hughes who skewed wide with just over 15 left while another great chance a couple of minutes later saw Jonny Payne pick out Matty Hughes and he teed up Chris Tarn but his effort was saved. And, Matty Hughes had another go in the 80th minute but Jason Jones was equal to it. On 82 minutes, Horden made a second and final change as Micky Naylor gave way for Kieran Thompson. Inside the final seven minutes, Dan Flounders picked out Chris Tarn with a superb cross but Tarn’s header bounced just say the wrong side of the post. Moments later, Stephen Chapman pulled the ball back for Matty Hughes but his effort was blocked. Charlie Raby tried his luck with 86 played after he had brought the ball down superbly but his shot was deflected behind for a corner. The resulting corner was played short and when it came into the penalty area, the ‘keeper caught. Chris Tarn and Jonny Payne both tired their luck in the final couple of minutes but there was no breakthrough and after a couple of minutes of injury time, the referee blew for full-time.

Full-time: Horden CW 3-3 Harton & Westoe CW

Next up for me is probably Durham City Reserves vs Sunderland Oddies on Saturday.

Horden CW Team: Anderson, Naylor, Campbell, Moss (c), Ethan Payne, Flounders, Turner, Hughes, Tarn, Raby, Chapman

Horden CW Subs: Jonny Payne (On for Ethan Payne, 65 minutes), Thompson (On for Micky Naylor, 82 minutes), Ling, Richardson

Harton & Westoe CW Team: Jones, Houshby, Connor Vasey, Rodgers, Wann, Stevens, Augustine, Carroll (c), Powell, Kerridge, Ewan Vasey

Harton & Westoe CW Subs (All unused as none of them were actually there): Shaun Heads, Edwards, Cooper, Gary Heads

Admission: Free for me, otherwise, £3 Adults, £1.50 Concessions

Programme: Free for the editor, otherwise £1

Attendance: 25

Referee: Dave Carr